What Is Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow?

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are overuse tendinopathies: the result of cumulative micro-trauma to the extensor tendons or flexor-pronator tendons at their attachment to the elbow. Most patients who develop these conditions have never played a racket or club sport.

The underlying pathology is tendon degeneration — a failed healing response producing disorganized, weak, painful tendon tissue. This explains why anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections typically provide only temporary relief. Chiropractic soft tissue therapy and rehabilitation address the actual pathology.

Common Symptoms

Patients presenting with tennis/golfer’s elbow in Lee’s Summit commonly report one or more of the following:

Pain at the outer (tennis) or inner (golfer’s) elbow
Weakness in grip
Pain with lifting or gripping
Tenderness on the epicondyle
Pain with wrist extension (tennis) or flexion (golfer’s)
Pain radiating into the forearm
Morning stiffness at the elbow
Dropped objects due to grip weakness

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, a chiropractic evaluation can identify the structural cause and determine whether conservative care is appropriate for your case.

Common Causes

Understanding what drives tennis/golfer’s elbow is essential to lasting treatment — not just symptom relief:

  • Repetitive gripping, typing, or tool use
  • Tennis, golf, or racket sports
  • Improper technique or equipment
  • Sudden increase in training volume
  • Weak shoulder or wrist stabilizers
  • Poor upper body biomechanics
  • Cervical nerve root irritation (C6-C7)
  • Direct trauma to the elbow

Chiropractic Treatment for Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow in Lee’s Summit, MO

Summit Chiropractic treats epicondylitis with a multimodal approach. Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) breaks up the disorganized, degenerative tendon tissue and stimulates the fibroblast activity needed for proper collagen remodeling. Myofascial release of the forearm musculature reduces the tensile load on the tendon attachment.

Elbow, wrist, and radial head joint mobilization restores normal mechanics. Cervical treatment addresses any upstream nerve root component. Rehabilitation progresses through eccentric loading exercises — the gold standard for tendinopathy — building tensile strength in the recovering tendon under controlled, progressive stress.

Serving Lee’s Summit & Surrounding Communities

Summit Chiropractic serves patients with tennis/golfer’s elbow throughout the Lee’s Summit, MO area, including Blue Springs, Raytown, Grandview, Independence, Belton, and the greater Jackson County region.

Lee’s Summit is one of the fastest-growing cities in Missouri, with an active population of professionals, families, and athletes who demand high-quality, evidence-based healthcare close to home. Summit Chiropractic provides accessible, effective chiropractic care without the long waits or impersonal experience of larger health systems.

Whether your tennis/golfer’s elbow stems from a workplace injury, sports activity, auto accident, or the cumulative demands of daily life, Summit Chiropractic has the clinical expertise to help you recover and stay well.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does tennis elbow take to heal?
With proper treatment including soft tissue therapy and eccentric rehabilitation, most patients see significant improvement in 6–12 weeks. Untreated or improperly managed tennis elbow can persist for 12–18 months or longer.
Are cortisone shots a good idea for tennis or golfer’s elbow?
Short-term, injections can reduce pain. Long-term evidence shows they do not improve outcomes versus conservative care and may impair tendon healing. Exhausting conservative options first is generally recommended.
Will I need to stop working to treat this?
Complete rest is not required. Activity modification — reducing the specific aggravating motions while maintaining general activity — combined with treatment produces better outcomes than total rest.