What to do for tennis elbow

If you have tennis elbow, the usual first steps are resting the arm, icing the outside of the elbow, and doing gentle stretching/strengthening exercises. Over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medicines can also help with pain, and a brace or strap may reduce strain during activities.

Quick Scoop

Tennis elbow is often caused by repetitive gripping or wrist movement , not just tennis. Many cases improve with conservative treatment over time, especially when you reduce the activity that triggered it and then gradually rebuild strength.

What helps most

  • Rest and activity changes. Avoid or reduce the movement that worsens the pain, especially repeated gripping, lifting, or wrist extension.
  • Ice. Apply ice to the painful area for short periods to help with soreness.
  • Exercises. Stretching and strengthening, especially for the forearm, are commonly recommended and can speed recovery.
  • Brace or strap. A tennis elbow brace or compression sleeve can help support the tendon during activity.
  • Pain relief. NSAIDs or other over-the-counter pain medicines may help if you can take them safely.

If it does not improve

If symptoms keep going despite self-care, a clinician may suggest physical therapy , injections such as corticosteroid or platelet-rich plasma in some cases, or other treatments. Surgery is usually reserved for persistent cases that have not improved after months of other treatment.

When to get checked

See a healthcare professional sooner if the pain is severe, you have swelling after an injury, numbness, weakness, trouble using the arm, or the pain is not improving after a few weeks of self-care.

If you want, I can also give you a simple 7-day tennis elbow care plan or easy exercises to try at home.