Elbow Pain Should Not Stop You From Gripping, Lifting, or Playing
Tennis elbow can make simple activities frustrating. Gripping a coffee mug, shaking hands, lifting weights, swinging a racquet, playing pickleball, working with tools, or carrying groceries can all become painful when the outside of the elbow is irritated.
Active Chiropractic helps patients in Alpharetta with tennis elbow, lateral elbow pain, forearm tightness, and overuse injuries. Dr. Jason Pease evaluates the elbow, wrist, shoulder, neck, and movement patterns that may be contributing to the problem, then builds a treatment plan that may include chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, corrective exercises, activity modification, and shockwave therapy when appropriate.
Schedule a Tennis Elbow Evaluation
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis or lateral elbow tendinopathy, is irritation of the tendon area on the outside of the elbow. It is commonly associated with tennis, but many patients develop it from pickleball, golf, weightlifting, computer work, repetitive gripping, yard work, or tool use.
The painful tissue is near the elbow, but the cause is not always limited to the elbow. Wrist strength, forearm tension, shoulder mechanics, neck mobility, grip load, training volume, and repetitive work demands can all contribute.
Common Symptoms
Tennis elbow symptoms may include:
- Pain on the outside of the elbow
- Pain with gripping or squeezing
- Pain when lifting a bag, dumbbell, pan, or coffee mug
- Forearm tightness or burning
- Pain with tennis, pickleball, golf, or lifting
- Weak grip strength
- Pain when turning a doorknob or opening a jar
- Symptoms that improve with rest but return with activity
Why Tennis Elbow Keeps Coming Back
Tennis elbow often becomes chronic when the irritated tendon is repeatedly overloaded without enough recovery or progressive strengthening. Rest may reduce pain temporarily, but symptoms often return when the same activity starts again.
Common contributing factors include:
- Repetitive gripping or wrist extension
- Sudden increase in tennis, pickleball, golf, or lifting volume
- Poor shoulder or wrist mechanics
- Forearm muscle tightness
- Neck or upper-back restrictions
- Inadequate tendon loading and strengthening
- Continuing painful activity without modifying volume
- Work demands involving tools, typing, lifting, or carrying
The goal is to identify the load the tendon cannot tolerate yet, reduce irritation, and rebuild capacity so the elbow can handle daily activity and sport again.
How Active Chiropractic Treats Tennis Elbow
Evaluation
Dr. Pease will review your symptoms, activity level, sport, work demands, training routine, and what you have already tried. The exam may include elbow, wrist, forearm, shoulder, neck, and upper-back assessment to understand why the tendon is irritated.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Soft tissue therapy may be used to address irritated or restricted tissue in the forearm, elbow, upper arm, shoulder, or related areas. The goal is to reduce tension and improve how the arm tolerates load.
Chiropractic Care
If joint restrictions in the neck, upper back, shoulder, elbow, or wrist are contributing to poor mechanics, chiropractic care may be included in the treatment plan. This can help improve motion and reduce compensation.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy may be recommended for chronic tennis elbow or stubborn tendon pain that has not responded well to rest, stretching, braces, or basic home care. It is targeted to the irritated tendon area and may be paired with strengthening and activity modification.
Corrective Exercises
Exercises may focus on wrist extensor strength, grip tolerance, forearm capacity, shoulder control, and gradual return to sport or work activity. The right plan depends on what triggers your pain and what you need to get back to.
Shockwave Therapy for Tennis Elbow in Alpharetta
Shockwave therapy can be a useful option when tennis elbow has become persistent or keeps returning. It uses acoustic energy targeted to the irritated tissue and is often used for tendon-related problems that are slow to heal.
At Active Chiropractic, shockwave therapy is not used by itself as a quick fix. It is part of a broader plan that may include soft tissue care, mobility work, strengthening, and practical changes to reduce the load that keeps irritating the elbow.
Tennis Elbow from Pickleball, Tennis, and Golf
Racquet and club sports place repeated stress on the elbow, wrist, shoulder, and trunk. Small changes in volume, grip pressure, equipment, technique, or recovery can lead to tendon irritation.
Active Chiropractic helps athletes and recreational players understand what is driving their symptoms, how to modify play while recovering, and what needs to improve before returning to full intensity.
Tennis Elbow from Lifting and Gym Training
Lifters often feel tennis elbow during pulling exercises, curls, pressing, kettlebell work, deadlifts, or heavy gripping. Training through pain can keep the tendon irritated and make symptoms last longer.
Treatment may include reducing aggravating movements temporarily, improving wrist and shoulder mechanics, building tendon capacity, and addressing mobility limitations that change how load moves through the arm.
Tennis Elbow from Work, Tools, and Repetitive Use
You do not have to play tennis to develop tennis elbow. Repetitive computer work, tool use, yard work, carrying, lifting, or gripping can overload the elbow over time.
Active Chiropractic can help identify the movements and positions that irritate the tendon, then build a plan that supports both symptom relief and better tolerance for work demands.
When to Get Evaluated
You should consider scheduling an evaluation if:
- Elbow pain has lasted more than two weeks
- Pain returns when you grip, lift, or play
- You have tried rest, a brace, stretching, or ice without lasting improvement
- Grip strength feels weaker
- Pain is affecting work, training, or sport
- You are changing how you lift or use your arm
- You want to avoid the rest-and-flare-up cycle
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Step One: Identify the Pain Source
Dr. Pease will determine whether your symptoms are consistent with tennis elbow and whether other areas are contributing to the pain.
Step Two: Find the Load Problem
The evaluation looks at grip, wrist motion, forearm tension, elbow mechanics, shoulder function, neck mobility, and the activities that trigger symptoms.
Step Three: Start a Practical Treatment Plan
Your plan may include chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, shockwave therapy, corrective exercises, activity modification, and follow-up care based on your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tennis elbow only caused by tennis?
No. Tennis elbow can come from pickleball, golf, weightlifting, tool use, typing, yard work, repetitive gripping, or any activity that repeatedly loads the forearm and elbow.
Can a chiropractor help tennis elbow?
Chiropractic care may help when tennis elbow is connected to joint mobility, soft tissue irritation, shoulder or wrist mechanics, neck restrictions, or movement compensation. Active Chiropractic evaluates the full arm and upper body, not just the elbow.
Does shockwave therapy help tennis elbow?
Shockwave therapy may help some patients with chronic tennis elbow or stubborn tendon pain, especially when combined with strengthening, mobility work, and activity modification.
Should I wear a tennis elbow brace?
A brace may reduce symptoms for some patients, but it usually does not fix the underlying load problem by itself. If pain keeps returning, you may need an evaluation and a more complete plan.
Can I keep playing pickleball or tennis with tennis elbow?
It depends on your symptoms and severity. Some patients can keep playing with modified volume, grip changes, or reduced intensity, while others need a short break from aggravating activity.
Where is Active Chiropractic located?
Active Chiropractic is located at 3586 Old Milton Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30005. The office serves Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Roswell, Windward, and nearby North Fulton communities.
Ready to Get a Better Plan for Elbow Pain?
If tennis elbow is limiting your sport, workouts, work, or daily activities, schedule an evaluation at Active Chiropractic. Dr. Pease will help determine what is causing your elbow pain and whether chiropractic care, shockwave therapy, soft tissue treatment, or a rehab plan is right for you.
Schedule an appointment online or call 678-379-7141.