Pain on the outside of your elbow when gripping, lifting or using your arm? Tennis elbow can make everyday tasks—from carrying shopping to working with tools or training in the gym—uncomfortable.
Need help? Read about our tennis elbow treatment in Dublin, or book an appointment in person or online.
| What it is | Overload of the tendon on the outside of the elbow (lateral elbow tendinopathy) |
|---|---|
| Key symptoms | Pain gripping, lifting with the palm down, shaking hands, using a mouse |
| Main treatment | Progressive loading, grip modification, brace short-term, shockwave or TECAR for stubborn cases |
| Typical improvement | Most improve within 3 to 6 months; up to a year if long-standing |
| Injections | Steroid injections give short relief but higher recurrence |
At Dublin Sports Injury Clinic in Dublin 2, we provide elbow assessments, personalised treatment and progressive rehabilitation. Our services include TECAR therapy and radial shockwave therapy, where appropriate following an assessment.
Your recovery starts with understanding your symptoms and choosing a plan that fits your work, activities and goals.
Book your tennis elbow assessment
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow is commonly called lateral epicondylitis or lateral elbow tendinopathy. It affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow associated with the muscles that extend your wrist.
Despite its name, you do not need to play tennis to develop it.
The term “epicondylitis” suggests inflammation, but persistent tennis elbow is more complex than inflammation alone.
Common symptoms of tennis elbow
Symptoms may include:
- Pain or tenderness around the outside of the elbow.
- Discomfort when gripping or shaking hands.
- Pain when lifting a kettle, bag or dumbbell.
- Difficulty using tools or performing repeated wrist movements.
- Reduced grip strength because of pain.
An assessment helps establish whether these symptoms come from tennis elbow or another condition.
Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow: what is the difference?
Tennis elbow typically causes pain on the outside of the elbow.
Golfer’s elbow, also called medial epicondylitis, usually causes pain on the inside.
Both can affect gripping and lifting, but involve different tendon groups. Your examination helps guide the appropriate rehabilitation programme.
What happens at your first appointment?
At Dublin Sports Injury Clinic, we start by reviewing your symptoms, medical history, previous treatment and daily demands.
We discuss the tasks that aggravate your elbow and what you want to return to. Your physical assessment considers movement, strength, grip and relevant activities.
Your appointment includes:
- An explanation of the assessment findings.
- Appropriate treatment to help manage symptoms.
- Practical advice for work, exercise and daily activities.
- A personalised rehabilitation plan.
- A discussion of your likely recovery pathway.
We also explain whether further medical assessment would be appropriate.
Tennis elbow rehabilitation: rebuilding strength and confidence
Adjust activities that aggravate symptoms
Activity management involves finding a manageable level of arm use and making practical changes where needed.
We can help you review your gym routine, work tasks and lifting habits, then plan how to rebuild activity gradually.
Progressively strengthen your forearm
Resisted wrist-extension exercises are recommended as part of treatment for subacute or persistent tennis elbow.
Your programme may also address grip strength and other relevant upper-limb muscles. Exercise selection and resistance should reflect your current ability and response.
Review your response and progress
A single pain score does not tell the whole story. We discuss how your elbow responds during activity, afterwards and the following day.
At follow-up appointments, we review your exercises, answer questions and adjust the plan around your progress.
TECAR therapy for tennis elbow in Dublin
TECAR therapy is a form of radiofrequency diathermy that can produce therapeutic warmth in the treated tissues.
At Dublin Sports Injury Clinic, we may consider TECAR as an additional treatment for symptom management alongside rehabilitation.
A small randomised trial reported benefits when TECAR was added to other treatment for lateral epicondylitis. However, research remains limited, and its additional long-term benefit over a structured exercise programme is uncertain.
We assess suitability, explain what to expect and review your response.
Learn more about TECAR therapy in Dublin
Shockwave therapy for tennis elbow in Dublin
Our clinic offers radial shockwave therapy, which delivers mechanical pressure pulses through an applicator placed against the skin.
It may be discussed for selected patients with persistent tennis elbow, particularly when symptoms have not improved sufficiently with initial care.
Research findings are mixed. Some studies report improvements, while NICE describes the evidence for effectiveness as inconsistent. Improvement is not guaranteed, and different shockwave devices and protocols should not be assumed to produce identical results.
Before treatment, we discuss suitability, possible discomfort or bruising, alternatives and how we will assess your response.
Explore our shockwave therapy service in Dublin
How do we choose your treatment?
Your diagnosis, symptoms, goals and preferences guide the plan.
TECAR and shockwave are optional treatments. Neither replaces the practical work of managing daily demands and rebuilding your arm’s capacity.
We explain the available options so you can make an informed decision about your care.
See a doctor promptly if: your elbow is hot and swollen, you cannot straighten it after a fall, or you have numbness or weakness in the hand.
Frequently asked questions
How long does tennis elbow take to improve?
There is no single recovery timeline. At your assessment, we discuss expectations based on your symptoms, daily demands and previous treatment, then review your progress.
Should I stop using my arm completely?
Complete rest is not usually the long-term solution. Your rehabilitation plan should help you find manageable activity and rebuild gradually.
Can I continue going to the gym?
Bring your current routine to your appointment. We can discuss adjustments to gripping, resistance and exercise selection.
Do I need TECAR or shockwave therapy?
No. These are additional options that may be considered after assessment. A personalised rehabilitation programme remains an important part of care.
When should I seek urgent medical advice?
Seek prompt assessment for significant pain after an injury, inability to move the elbow, or a hot, swollen joint with fever. New or worsening numbness or weakness also needs medical review.
Book tennis elbow treatment in Dublin 2
If elbow pain is affecting your work, sleep, lifting or exercise, we can help you understand the problem and plan your next steps.
At Dublin Sports Injury Clinic, we provide personalised assessments, rehabilitation and suitable treatment options, including TECAR and shockwave therapy.
This article provides general education and does not replace an individual assessment.
References
- Lucado AM et al. (2022). Lateral Elbow Pain and Muscle Function Impairments: Clinical Practice Guidelines.Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
- Taheri P et al. (2025). The Assessment of TECAR Therapy Efficacy to Manage Lateral Epicondylitis. Advanced Biomedical Research.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for refractory tennis elbow.HealthTech guidance HTG201.
- Yao G et al. (2020). Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. BioMed Research International.
Need help with this? Talk to a physiotherapist.
Get a proper assessment and a personalised recovery plan at Dublin Sports Injury Clinic, 56 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2, or book an online consultation from anywhere. Learn more about our elbow and wrist treatment in Dublin.