Tennis Elbow | Lateral Epicondylitis | Tennis Elbow Symptoms | Maya Physical Therapy

Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis

What is Lateral Epicondylitis?

Epicondylitis occurs when the tendons that joins the forearm muscles on the outside part of the elbow gets inflamed. Tendons attach muscle to bone. The muscle, extensor carpi radialis which helps to extend and stabilize the wrist is involved in this condition. The tendon may get degenerated where it attaches to rounded projections of the bone (epicondyle) and causes greater stress on the area. As a result, pain is felt while lifting, griping or grasping as the muscle is active during these movements.

tennis eibow

What are the Causes?

Overuse- Any repetitive movements that places stress on the tendon attachments, through stress on the extensor muscle tendon unit increase the strain on the tendon. It can be either from holding too large racquet grip or other repetitive movements such as a meat cutting, plumbing, painting, weaving etc.Trauma-It can also occur due to direct blow to the elbow which leads to swelling and consequently degeneration. The tendon can also get injured by a sudden extreme action, force or activity.

Who gets it?

The age group which mostly get lateral epicondylitis is between 30-50.It may occur in younger and older age groups irrespective of gender.

What are the signs and Symptoms?

People with epicondylitis may feel pain at outside aspect of elbow. They may also feel weak grip strength. Often the symptoms are aggravated by forearm activity. They may also feel stiffness in the elbow. The symptoms may develop gradually but it worsens over period of time. Most often the dominant arm is affected, but it can also affect both arms.

Physical therapy treatments

Your physical therapist will design specific programs to speed your recovery. They may include modalities such as iontophoresis/ phonophoresis, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation manual therapy, paraffin bath therapy, ice packs/hot packs or both. Your therapist may design a specific strengthening exercise program for you. Therapist may recommend you use of proper elbow/wrist support or orthotics. They may prescribe you home exercise programs (HEP) so that you can continue stretching and strengthening at home.

Improving mobility

A physical therapist use manual therapy to increase the mobility of the joint so that you can move freely without pain.

Improving Strength

Most often, insufficient muscle strength can lead to tennis elbow especially; wrist and forearm. Sometimes, the root cause may point to insufficient strength of core muscles. In fact, you may find that, how important is to improve overall level of fitness to improve your elbow condition.

In the earlier stages, when you still have pain, physical therapist may recommend passive exercises in which your wrist and elbow is moved without using your muscles. As the symptoms declines physical therapist may focus on Active ROM exercises. Once the muscles get stronger and the symptom diminishes exercises using weight and bands are given by the therapist.

A physical therapist can help you to remain active by teaching you how to modify your daily activities to avoid pain and farther injury. They may also educate you the importance of taking stretch breaks so that your muscles get rest from the repetitive movement. Only an experienced physical therapist can analyze the source of the problem and find a solution for your problem.

Sanjaimon Naduparambil,
Physical Therapist

Phone: (954) 252-9619

Sanjay Naduparambil is a Florida State licensed Physical Therapist who graduated from the Dr. MGR Medical University in Chennai, India. Sanjay has over 20 years of experience in a variety of treatment settings including acute care, cardiac rehabilitation, wound care, neurological treatment, home healthcare and outpatient orthopedics. He has spent the last 10 years perfecting his treatment skills in the area of orthopedics and has been described by his patients as a highly competent and compassionate clinician. In early 2012, Sanjay established Maya Physical Therapy, Inc with the goal of providing the community with quality therapy services that go beyond the standards of care.


Sanjay has furthered his education/training by completing continuing education courses in the following areas: kinesiology taping, vestibular rehabilitation, cardiac rehabilitation, and hip/ knee/ankle/ shoulder diagnosis and treatment. He has also completed the first and second phase of the McKenzie post graduate program for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine mechanical diagnosis and treatment from McKenize Institute USA. In addition to his qualifications as a Physical Therapist, Sanjay has received his certification as a Personal Trainer by the International Sports and Fitness Trainers Association.


Sanjay’s professional interests include expanding his already extensive knowledge base through ongoing clinical education in manual treatment and differential diagnosis.