Symptoms
How We Can Help You for Tennis Elbow
We precisely diagnose and provide advanced care for tennis elbow, the condition where damage has occurred to the tendons connecting your forearm muscles with your elbow.
Our doctors in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine have specialized training and extensive experience in managing tennis elbow. They work closely with our physical therapists and other professionals to develop a care plan personalized to your needs.
Our goal is to help relieve your symptoms, which may include a dull, aching pain on the outer part of your elbow that can make everyday tasks difficult. Beyond relieving your pain, our goal is to help you heal so you can resume your normal activities as soon and safely as possible.
Our care plans always emphasize minimally invasive treatment approaches whenever possible. Your doctor may recommend noninvasive treatments like lifestyle changes, medication, physical therapy, or ultrasound therapy. Or your plan may include complementary treatments such as acupuncture. If needed, we also perform the full spectrum of surgical procedures, from the common to the most complex.
In addition, Stanford Health Care patients may have opportunities to join research studies of new treatments not yet available anywhere else.
What We Offer You for Tennis Elbow
- Specialized expertise from one of the world’s leading programs focused on diagnosing and treating tennis elbow and all other orthopaedic conditions.
- Team-based treatment planning that brings together highly experienced specialists who create a comprehensive care plan personalized to your unique needs.
- Advanced treatment options, always emphasizing the least invasive approaches possible but also providing state-of-the-art surgery whenever needed.
- Full support that includes care planning and follow-up as well as strategies to effectively treat tennis elbow so you can resume your regular activities as soon as possible.
- Clinical trial opportunities to join research studies of new innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of tennis elbow.
- Easy access to highly trained specialists conveniently located close to where you work or live.
Treatment for Tennis Elbow
Elbow pain may make it difficult to enjoy your regular activities. Stanford’s orthopaedic experts use the most advanced treatments along with complementary therapies to help you recover from tennis elbow faster. We personalize your tennis elbow treatment plan to best fit your lifestyle.
Our doctors receive special training during fellowships to best diagnose and manage tennis elbow. We work together to find treatments suiting your personal needs.
We stand behind you throughout all phases of your recovery. Our doctors help you manage your symptoms and get back to your regular life as soon as possible.
Our experts use the latest treatments, coupled with alternative therapies like acupuncture, to help you heal.
Nonsurgical Treatments
Surgery
Many nonsurgical tennis elbow treatments effectively manage pain and help you return to your normal activities faster. In some cases, resting your elbow may be enough to manage your pain and allow tennis elbow to heal. But you may need additional treatment, especially if pain interferes with your daily life.
Your Stanford treatment team may recommend one or a combination of treatments to help you start the healing process. We offer a full range of treatments, from lifestyle modifications to surgery, to manage your symptoms fast.
Lifestyle Modifications
Sometimes, changing your habits may be enough to heal tennis elbow. Your doctor may also suggest:
Apply ice: Putting ice on your elbow for brief periods throughout the day helps relieve swelling and pain.
Use proper technique: Switching hands or changing your grip when working with tools may help prevent tennis elbow.
Warm up first: Warming up and stretching before any activity helps strengthen elbow tendons.
Avoid certain activities: Avoiding or modifying activities that irritate your tendons, such as playing tennis, may help prevent tennis elbow.
Medications
If pain affects your job or daily life, your doctor may suggest medication, such as:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Medications like ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce swelling and pain.
Nitric oxide patches
This emerging treatment delivers a continuous dose of medication to your injured elbow.
Corticosteroid injections
Doctors use corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation.
Noninvasive Treatments
For more serious injuries, your doctor may recommend:
Braces
A brace limits movement to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Splints
Elbow or wrist splints immobilize your elbow to help reduce symptoms.
Physical therapy
Exercises performed during physical therapy help strengthen and stretch muscles while reducing pain.
Ultrasound therapy
This procedure treats tennis elbow with heat to help speed up the healing process.
Complementary Therapies
Certain complementary therapies can also help manage the symptoms of tennis elbow. Your treatment may include:
Acupuncture
Acupuncturists place thin needles at key locations on your body. For some, this complementary therapy reduces pain.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy
This procedure uses a special device to deliver sound waves through the skin to injured tendons. This can help promote the body’s natural healing process.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
This therapy uses low voltage electrical currents to manage pain
In some cases, doctors recommend surgery to repair damaged tendons. Surgery may be right for you if you’ve experienced symptoms for six to 12 months, even though you’ve tried nonsurgical treatments. Your surgery may include:
Elbow arthroscopy
During this minimally invasive procedure, surgeons make two small incisions on either side of your elbow. Then, your surgeon uses an arthroscope, a thin, flexible fiberoptic scope, to remove damaged tendon or muscle tissue and reattach the healthy portion.
Open surgery
In some cases, surgeons make one long incision to access elbow tendons. Your surgeon may remove damaged portions of a tendon or reattach a tendon to the bone.
Many nonsurgical tennis elbow treatments effectively manage pain and help you return to your normal activities faster. In some cases, resting your elbow may be enough to manage your pain and allow tennis elbow to heal. But you may need additional treatment, especially if pain interferes with your daily life.
Your Stanford treatment team may recommend one or a combination of treatments to help you start the healing process. We offer a full range of treatments, from lifestyle modifications to surgery, to manage your symptoms fast.
Lifestyle Modifications
Sometimes, changing your habits may be enough to heal tennis elbow. Your doctor may also suggest:
Apply ice: Putting ice on your elbow for brief periods throughout the day helps relieve swelling and pain.
Use proper technique: Switching hands or changing your grip when working with tools may help prevent tennis elbow.
Warm up first: Warming up and stretching before any activity helps strengthen elbow tendons.
Avoid certain activities: Avoiding or modifying activities that irritate your tendons, such as playing tennis, may help prevent tennis elbow.
Medications
If pain affects your job or daily life, your doctor may suggest medication, such as:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Medications like ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce swelling and pain.
Nitric oxide patches
This emerging treatment delivers a continuous dose of medication to your injured elbow.
Corticosteroid injections
Doctors use corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation.
Noninvasive Treatments
For more serious injuries, your doctor may recommend:
Braces
A brace limits movement to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Splints
Elbow or wrist splints immobilize your elbow to help reduce symptoms.
Physical therapy
Exercises performed during physical therapy help strengthen and stretch muscles while reducing pain.
Ultrasound therapy
This procedure treats tennis elbow with heat to help speed up the healing process.
Complementary Therapies
Certain complementary therapies can also help manage the symptoms of tennis elbow. Your treatment may include:
Acupuncture
Acupuncturists place thin needles at key locations on your body. For some, this complementary therapy reduces pain.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy
This procedure uses a special device to deliver sound waves through the skin to injured tendons. This can help promote the body’s natural healing process.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
This therapy uses low voltage electrical currents to manage pain
close Nonsurgical Treatments
In some cases, doctors recommend surgery to repair damaged tendons. Surgery may be right for you if you’ve experienced symptoms for six to 12 months, even though you’ve tried nonsurgical treatments. Your surgery may include:
Elbow arthroscopy
During this minimally invasive procedure, surgeons make two small incisions on either side of your elbow. Then, your surgeon uses an arthroscope, a thin, flexible fiberoptic scope, to remove damaged tendon or muscle tissue and reattach the healthy portion.
Open surgery
In some cases, surgeons make one long incision to access elbow tendons. Your surgeon may remove damaged portions of a tendon or reattach a tendon to the bone.
close Surgery
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Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may be eligible to participate in open clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Our Clinics
At the Robert A. Chase Hand and Upper Limb Center, we specialize in the care of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Our team includes surgeons from Orthopaedic Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as a dedicated clinical support staff.
450 Broadway Street
450 Broadway StreetRedwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-723-5643 Getting Here
RELATED CLINICS
Suite 211
Los Gatos, CA 95032
Suite 200
Pleasanton, CA 94588
To schedule an appointment, please call: 650-723-5643