Despite the name, tennis elbow does not only happen to tennis players. It can affect pickleball players, gym-goers, desk workers, tradespeople, and anyone who does repeated gripping or wrist movement.
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow, also called lateral elbow tendinopathy, usually involves irritation or overload of the tendons on the outside of the elbow. These tendons help control wrist and grip movements.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain on the outside of the elbow
- Pain with gripping, lifting, picking up objects, or shaking hands
- Discomfort when using a racquet, paddle, tools, or weights
- Morning stiffness or tenderness around the elbow
- Reduced grip strength
- Symptoms that reduce with rest but recur when you return to sport or activity
Why pickleball and tennis can irritate the elbow
Elbow pain often builds when the tendon is asked to do more than it is ready for. In tennis or pickleball, this can happen with:
- A sudden increase in playing time
- Gripping the paddle or racquet too tightly
- Poor recovery between sessions
- Changes in equipment
- Repeated backhands or off-centre hits
- Weakness in the wrist, shoulder, or upper back
- Returning too quickly after time off
- Incorrect or poor form during sport
The problem is not always the elbow alone. Shoulder control, trunk rotation, technique, and overall workload can all affect how much stress the elbow takes.
What you can try first
If symptoms are mild, it may help to reduce the activities that flare the pain while keeping the elbow moving within a comfortable range.
You may also try:
- Reducing playing volume temporarily
- Avoiding repeated painful gripping
- Warming up before play
- Checking your paddle or racquet grip size
- Correcting your form during play
- Building forearm strength gradually
- Avoiding the play-through-it-until-it-is-worse approach
Rest alone often is not enough. Tendons usually need the right amount of progressive loading to become more tolerant over time.
When to see a physiotherapist
Book a physiotherapy assessment if:
- You have a new onset of elbow pain and are not sure what to do right after the injury
- Pain has been present for one to two weeks without much improvement
- Pain keeps returning when you play
- Your grip feels painful or weaker
- Daily tasks such as lifting a bottle or kettle or opening jars hurt
- Your symptoms are affecting work, sport, or exercise
- You are unsure what exercises are safe
- You want clear guidance returning to tennis, pickleball, or the gym
A physiotherapist can assess your elbow, wrist, shoulder, strength, mobility, and sport-specific demands to build a plan that fits your goals.
How physiotherapy can help
Treatment may include:
- Education about tendon recovery
- Progressive wrist and forearm strengthening
- Shoulder and upper-body strengthening
- Grip and load-management strategies
- Manual therapy, modalities, or acupuncture
- Return-to-play planning
- Advice around technique, warm-up, and equipment
The goal during a period of high-intensity pain or after a recent injury is to calm your symptoms. Then, it is important to help your elbow muscles and tendons build resilience, tolerate the demands of your sport again, and reduce the risk of reinjury.
FAQ
Is pickleball elbow the same as tennis elbow?
Often, yes. Pickleball players can develop pain on the outside of the elbow similar to tennis elbow because of repeated gripping, paddle use, and wrist-control demands.
Should I stop playing completely?
Not always. Some people need a short break, while others can keep playing with reduced volume or modified activity. A physiotherapist can help you decide on a plan based on your symptoms and goals.
Can tennis elbow go away on its own?
Sometimes symptoms settle, but recurring or persistent elbow pain often benefits from a structured strengthening and load-management plan guided by a registered physiotherapist.
Do I need imaging for elbow pain?
Most cases do not need imaging right away. If symptoms are unusual, severe, or not improving as expected, your physiotherapist can recommend medical follow-up when appropriate.