You don’t need to play tennis to get it
“Tennis elbow” (lateral epicondylalgia) is a common name for pain on the outside of the elbow, usually related to overload of the tendons that attach your forearm muscles near the elbow joint. Despite the name, it’s just as likely to affect tradespeople, office workers, parents lifting young children, or anyone doing repetitive gripping and lifting tasks.
Why it lingers
Tennis elbow can be persistent, particularly if the aggravating activity — typing, gripping tools, lifting — continues without any load management. Pain that’s been present for several weeks or months often needs more than rest alone to resolve.
How shockwave therapy is used
Our AHPRA-registered physiotherapists may recommend shockwave therapy for tennis elbow that hasn’t responded to initial treatment such as activity modification, bracing or stretching. It’s generally combined with:
- A progressive strengthening program for the forearm and wrist
- Advice on modifying grip, lifting technique or workstation setup
- Stretching to support tendon flexibility
What sessions involve
Shockwave therapy for tennis elbow is delivered directly over the tender area near the elbow. Most people find the sensation firm but tolerable, and sessions are relatively brief. A course of treatment, usually spaced weekly, is typical rather than a single session.
Quick tip
Simple changes like a larger grip on tools or utensils, or adjusting your keyboard and mouse setup, can meaningfully reduce ongoing strain while your elbow recovers.
Building tendon capacity back up
Tendons generally respond well to gradual, progressive loading over time. Your physiotherapist will guide you through a program that slowly increases what your forearm tendons can tolerate, rather than jumping straight back into full activity, to help reduce the chance of the pain returning.
Tennis elbow is a loading problem as much as a pain problem — which is why exercise is usually central to recovery.
Ergonomics and everyday triggers
Beyond sport, everyday activities like typing, using tools, or repetitive lifting can all contribute to tennis elbow. Reviewing your workstation setup, tool grip size, or lifting technique alongside your treatment can help address the underlying cause, not just the symptom.
Your physiotherapist can offer practical suggestions specific to your work or hobbies that may be contributing to ongoing strain on the tendon.
Timeframes for improvement
Tennis elbow often takes a number of weeks to meaningfully improve, and consistency with your prescribed exercise program tends to matter more than any single treatment session, including shockwave therapy.
Combining treatments for better results
Many people find a combination of shockwave therapy, targeted strengthening, and simple activity modifications works better together than any single approach alone. Your physiotherapist will help you understand how these pieces fit together across your treatment plan.
What a typical course of care looks like
A course of shockwave therapy for tennis elbow generally involves a handful of sessions, spaced roughly a week apart, alongside a progressive strengthening program you’ll continue at home between visits. Your physiotherapist will monitor your grip strength, pain levels and function throughout, adjusting the exercise program as your tendon adapts to increasing load.
Many people notice gradual improvements over the course of several weeks rather than an immediate change after a single session, so it helps to approach treatment with realistic, patient expectations. Sticking with your home exercise program between clinic visits is often just as important as the in-clinic treatment itself for a lasting result.
Learn more from independent sources: healthdirect Australia. Information on this page is general in nature and is not a substitute for individualised advice from a registered health practitioner.
Information on this page is general in nature and is not a substitute for individualised advice from a registered health practitioner. Our practitioners are registered with AHPRA.