Tennis Elbow Treatment
in Oxford
Tennis elbow is a common but often misunderstood condition. The pain is in the elbow, but the cause frequently lies elsewhere. At Northwood Chiropractic, we use the Gonstead System to identify the root cause and address it precisely.
Oxford Chiropractor
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a condition causing pain on the outside of the elbow. It develops when the tendons attaching to the lateral epicondyle (the bony prominence on the outer elbow) are placed under excessive or sustained load, leading to inflammation, microtearing, and eventually chronic pain.
Despite the name, most people with tennis elbow have never played tennis. It is extremely common in office workers, tradespeople, manual workers, and anyone who performs repetitive gripping or lifting movements. The pain is typically worst when gripping objects, extending the wrist, or rotating the forearm.
What is less commonly understood is that the tendons at the elbow are only part of the picture. The muscles involved originate higher up the arm, and the nerves that control them come from the cervical and thoracic spine. Treating the elbow in isolation without addressing these upstream factors is why many cases of tennis elbow fail to fully resolve.
Common Symptoms
- Pain on the outside of the elbow, particularly with gripping
- Pain when lifting the wrist upwards (wrist extension)
- Discomfort when twisting the forearm (such as using a screwdriver)
- Weakness in grip strength
- Pain that radiates down the forearm towards the wrist
- Tenderness directly over the lateral epicondyle
- Symptoms that worsen with repetitive activity and ease with rest
- Stiffness in the elbow, particularly in the morning
Why Tennis Elbow
Really Develops
Tennis elbow develops when the tendons at the outer elbow are placed under load they cannot handle. But the more important question is why that load is excessive in the first place. In most cases, it comes down to factors working against the elbow from elsewhere in the body.
The nerves that control the muscles attaching to the lateral epicondyle originate from the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine. Misalignment in this area can reduce the nerve supply to these muscles, weakening them and placing greater demand on the tendons. Dysfunction in the shoulder, wrist, or elbow joint itself can create similar compensation patterns.
This is why the Gonstead assessment looks beyond the elbow. Once the root cause is clearly defined, it can be addressed precisely, removing the underlying load that is preventing recovery.
Misalignment in the cervical or upper thoracic spine reduces nerve supply to the forearm muscles, weakening them and increasing tendon load
Restricted movement in the elbow, wrist, or shoulder forces compensation patterns that overload the lateral epicondyle tendons
Sustained repetitive gripping, lifting, or twisting activities without adequate recovery place cumulative load on the tendons
Workstation setup, tool grip size, and lifting technique all influence how load is distributed across the elbow and forearm
Unresolved past injuries to the shoulder, wrist, or neck alter movement patterns and redistribute stress to the outer elbow
Chiropractic Treatment
for Tennis Elbow
The assessment is the most important first step. Once we can clearly define the cause, we can address it precisely. Our examination looks at the elbow, the surrounding joints, and the cervical and thoracic spine, giving us a complete picture before any treatment begins.
- 1
Full Health History
Understanding how the condition developed, what activities aggravate it, and any previous injuries to the arm, shoulder, or neck.
- 2
Spinal Assessment
Nervoscope scanning and structural analysis of the cervical and upper thoracic spine to identify any misalignment reducing nerve supply to the forearm muscles.
- 3
Elbow and Forearm Testing
Specific orthopaedic tests to confirm lateral epicondylitis, assess the degree of tendon involvement, and identify any joint dysfunction in the elbow or wrist.
- 4
Results and Personalised Plan
At your second visit, we explain exactly what we found and present a targeted care plan addressing both the local and spinal contributors, including activity guidance and ergonomic advice where relevant.
He works methodically to pinpoint the root cause of issues and goes about fixing them with a long term approach that makes all the difference. Just all around a gift to those who need healing and pain relief.
Tennis Elbow FAQs
Can a Chiropractor help with tennis elbow?
Yes. Tennis elbow frequently has contributing factors beyond the elbow itself, including nerve pressure from the cervical spine and joint dysfunction in the shoulder, wrist, or upper back. By identifying and correcting these underlying causes, Chiropractic care removes the load on the affected tendons and allows natural healing to occur. Treating the elbow alone without addressing these factors is why many cases fail to fully resolve.
Do you need to play tennis to get tennis elbow?
No. Despite the name, most people with tennis elbow have never played tennis. It is extremely common in office workers, tradespeople, manual workers, gardeners, and anyone who performs repetitive gripping or lifting movements. The name refers to the location and mechanism of injury rather than the sport.
What causes tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow develops when the tendons attaching to the outer elbow are placed under excessive load over time. Contributing factors include nerve pressure from the cervical or thoracic spine, joint dysfunction in the shoulder, elbow, or wrist, repetitive gripping movements, poor ergonomics, and unresolved past injuries that alter movement patterns. The Gonstead assessment identifies which of these are present in your specific case.
How long does tennis elbow take to heal?
Without addressing the underlying cause, tennis elbow can persist for months or even years. When the spinal and mechanical contributing factors are identified and corrected, recovery is significantly faster. Most patients notice meaningful improvement within the first few weeks of care. A clear prognosis is provided at your second visit based on your specific findings.
Is rest enough to resolve tennis elbow?
Rest can reduce symptoms temporarily but rarely resolves tennis elbow completely if the underlying mechanical and neurological factors remain unaddressed. Returning to activity without correcting the root cause almost always leads to recurrence. A targeted assessment and care plan is significantly more effective than rest alone.
Do I need a GP referral to see a Chiropractor for tennis elbow?
No. Chiropractors are primary healthcare practitioners and you can book directly without a GP referral. If your assessment reveals anything outside our scope of care, we will refer you to the appropriate professional promptly.
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