Video Description
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is damage to the tendon that attaches on the outer side of the elbow. The damage can be small or larger, and it is common across a wide age range — roughly 20 to 60 — not only in people who play tennis.
It is often linked to activity that overloads the forearm tendons.
This page covers what causes tennis elbow, how it feels, and how physiotherapy is typically approached.
What causes it
- Gym activity — lifting more weight than the tendon is ready for, suddenly
- Sport without a proper cool-down — many people warm up but skip cooling down, which can contribute to tendon strain
- Repeated manual work — machinery work, catering, and other jobs involving lifting and carrying, especially with heavy loads or poor technique
This video covers these common causes. There are other contributors too — including age-related tendon degeneration (tendinosis) — and the pain is on the outer elbow, which is different from golfer’s elbow on the inner side. An assessment identifies which applies to you.
How it feels
- A dull, aching pain at the outer elbow that tends to be present much of the time
- Sometimes a burning sensation
- Sometimes a sharper, catching pain, often with gripping or lifting
How physiotherapy helps
Assessment first confirms that the elbow pain is tennis elbow rather than another elbow condition. Treatment usually begins with reducing pain, after which swelling tends to settle. To restore grip and function, exercises are introduced — first gentle mobilisation so the elbow bends and straightens freely, then strengthening matched to your age and strength.
Done consistently, these exercises often improve grip and support a return to sport and activity, while reducing the chance of further damage. It helps to reduce aggravating activities, warm up and cool down properly, and avoid the specific tasks that flare the pain.
Booking an assessment
If your outer elbow aches with gripping or lifting, an assessment can confirm the cause and guide recovery. Learn more about sports injury physiotherapy or call to book.
Chennai Physio Care® — Anna Nagar West, Chennai
📞 73052 74514
🕐 Monday – Saturday, 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Home visits are available across Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, Mogappair, Arumbakkam, Koyambedu, and Korattur. Call us to discuss whether a home visit is appropriate for your situation.
Last reviewed by Dr. N Vanathy, PT — July 2026 Chennai Physio Care®, Anna Nagar West, Chennai