The Sports Medicine experts at Cleveland Clinic Canada, which operates one of the largest sports medicine and rehabilitation clinics in Toronto, regularly assess and treat tennis elbow, one of the most common overuse injuries in racquet sports.
Also known as lateral epicondylitis, it occurs when the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow become irritated from repetitive gripping, swinging, and wrist movements commonly used in tennis. Over time, this can lead to pain, weakness, and difficulty performing at your best both on and off the court.
Common symptoms of tennis elbow include:
• Pain or burning on the outside of the elbow
• Tenderness when pressing on the area
• Weak grip strength
• Discomfort during backhands, serves, or volleys
• Pain during everyday tasks such as lifting a bag or opening a jar
How is tennis elbow treated?
The good news is that most cases improve without surgery. Recovery can take time, often several weeks to several months, depending on severity and how early treatment begins.
“Tennis elbow is very common, and most cases improve with non-surgical treatment and consistent rehabilitation over time. Our goal in sports medicine is to help patients return to the sport they love as safely and quickly as possible,” says Dr. Michael Clarfield, Sports Medicine Physician at Cleveland Clinic Canada’s Midtown Sports Clinic and former Team Physician at Tennis Canada.
Treatment options may include:
• Temporarily reducing or modifying aggravating activity
• Ice or heat for symptom relief
• Anti-inflammatory medication when appropriate
• Physiotherapy with targeted mobility and strengthening exercises
• Shockwave therapy
• Corticosteroid injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in select cases
Why rehabilitation matters
While rest can help settle pain early on, strengthening the forearm, wrist, shoulder, and upper body is often the key to lasting recovery.
A personalized rehabilitation plan can help:
• Improve tendon resilience
• Restore grip strength
• Reduce the chance of recurrence
• Support a safe return to play
How to help prevent tennis elbow
Prevention starts with preparing your body for the demands of the sport. Tennis players can reduce their risk by:
• Warming up before matches and practice
• Strengthening forearm, shoulder, and core muscles regularly
• Gradually increasing playing volume
• Using proper stroke mechanics
• Ensuring racquet grip size, string type, and tension are appropriate
• Addressing soreness early before it becomes persistent pain
When to seek expert care
If elbow pain is limiting your game, lingering between matches, or returning repeatedly, an assessment by a sports medicine physician or physiotherapist can help identify the cause and create the right treatment plan.
Cleveland Clinic Canada is proud to be the Official Health Partner of Tennis Canada and the National Bank Open. Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation experts help athletes of all levels recover from injury, move better, and perform at their best.
Feature Photo: Cleveland Clinic Canada
