Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Also known as: tennis elbow, lateral epicondylitis, lateral elbow tendinopathy, lateral epicondylalgia
Tennis elbow is overload of the forearm extensor tendons. Load management and progressive exercise are first-line care; acupuncture has reasonable short-term evidence for pain, and Chinese medicine treats it as local channel obstruction, Cold-Damp or Blood stasis.
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Lifestyle & Diet
- •Reduce aggravating gripping and lifting, but keep the arm moving.
- •Progressive strengthening of the wrist extensors is the main treatment.
- •A counterforce brace may ease pain during activity.
- •Most cases settle within a year.
Cautions & Contraindications
- •Avoid needling into the joint capsule or ulnar nerve region at the medial elbow.[]
- •Exclude fracture or nerve injury before treating as tendinopathy.[]
When to reassess or seek care again
Track pain-free grip and pain (0–10) every 4 weeks. Refer if no improvement after 3 months.
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Sources & Further Reading
Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.
- Healthdirect Australia · 2024
- NICE · 2023
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2002
- AHPRA / Chinese Medicine Board of Australia · 2024
Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.