MOVEMENT / EVERYDAY ACTIVITY / ELBOW HEALTH
A coffee mug, a garden tool and a tennis racket have something in common: each asks your hand and forearm to grip. When that familiar movement starts hurting at the outside of your elbow, the name “tennis elbow” may come up even if you have never played a match.
Here is how to recognize a pattern worth discussing, reduce aggravating activity and prepare for an evaluation. Elbow pain has several possible causes, so a symptom checklist cannot diagnose it.
Why gripping can hurt at the elbow
Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, affects tendons that connect forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. Those muscles help control your wrist and fingers. Repeated or forceful use can contribute, at work as well as in sports. Sometimes there is no obvious activity that started it. AAOS explains the condition and its causes.
Symptoms often build gradually. Pain or burning at the outer elbow and a weaker grip are common, and some people notice discomfort at night. Turning a tool or holding a racket may be painful. But location alone is not enough to identify the cause: nerve problems and other conditions can resemble tennis elbow. An examination helps sort them out.
Start by changing the task that aggravates it
If symptoms are mild and there has been no significant injury, reduce or pause activities that clearly make the pain worse. The NHS recommends this approach for tennis elbow and advises getting assessed if pain remains after at least two weeks of rest and self-care. You do not need to wait that long if symptoms are worsening, worrying or disrupting daily life. NHS tennis-elbow guidance.
Think beyond the sport named in the diagnosis. What happens during your workday, cooking, home projects or hobbies? Bring one specific example to your appointment rather than trying to remember every uncomfortable moment.
A useful note to bring to your visit
The task: What were you gripping, lifting or turning?
The change: Did you recently increase the time, repetition or effort?
The pattern: Where is the discomfort, when does it appear, and does it settle after the task?
The impact: Are you avoiding work, losing sleep or struggling with an ordinary activity?
Your goal: What would you like to do comfortably again?
These are conversation prompts, not a test. Include any previous injury, treatment or relevant health condition when you speak with your clinician.
How physical therapy can help
A physical therapist can examine your elbow and consider other areas that may contribute to the problem. Depending on the findings, care may include activity changes, exercises to improve movement and strength, and education about how you use your arm. The plan should fit your symptoms and the tasks you need to return to. APTA’s ChoosePT guide to tennis elbow.
OCHW’s magazine emphasizes assessing movement, building strength and practicing for real life. That is a useful framework for this conversation: ask what the evaluation found, what you should change now and how your progress will be checked. Learn about our physical therapy services and therapeutic exercise and home programs.
Why not start with a random exercise video?
The right exercise and starting difficulty depend on what is causing the pain. AAOS recommends that its elbow rehabilitation program be supervised by a clinician and that exercises be selected for your needs. Ask your therapist to demonstrate your starting position, resistance and progression, rather than copying a routine that was written for someone else. AAOS elbow exercise-program guidance.
Before leaving an appointment, ask: “What response is acceptable during and after the exercise? When should I stop and contact you? What needs to improve before I increase the workload?” Write down the answers with your program.
When elbow or arm pain needs urgent attention
Seek urgent medical assessment for severe pain with difficulty moving the arm; an injury with a snapping sound or visible change in shape; new numbness or tingling; or swelling accompanied by fever or feeling hot and shivery. Arm pain brought on by exertion that eases with rest also needs urgent medical advice rather than being assumed to be a tendon problem.
Call 911 if sudden arm pain occurs with chest pressure, heaviness or squeezing. Do not wait for a routine physical therapy visit. These warning signs are summarized from NHS elbow and arm pain guidance, with the U.S. emergency number used here.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have tennis elbow without playing tennis?
Yes. Repetitive gripping and wrist or forearm activity at work or during other hobbies can contribute. The name describes a familiar association, not a requirement for diagnosis.
Does every painful grip mean tennis elbow?
No. Similar symptoms can have other causes. An evaluation is especially important when symptoms persist, worsen or include numbness, tingling or marked weakness.
Should I buy a brace before being evaluated?
A support may be useful for some people, but it is not a substitute for understanding the cause. Ask a clinician whether one is appropriate and how it should fit and be used. ChoosePT notes that a therapist can help make that decision.
How soon can I return to my usual activity?
There is no single timeline for everyone. Your therapist can help you judge readiness based on your symptoms, movement, strength and the demands of the activity. Ask for a practical progression rather than a promised recovery date.
Get help with your next step in Orlando or Winter Park
For non-emergency elbow or movement concerns, contact Orlando City Health & Wellness to ask about an evaluation. View our locations and contact details.
Orlando: 855 Outer Rd, Orlando, FL 32814. 407-250-5566.
Winter Park: 1320 Orlando Ave., Suite #3, Winter Park, FL 32789. 407-960-6702.
Educational information, not a diagnosis or individualized treatment plan. Sources checked October 29, 2026.
Images are AI-generated illustrations, not actual patients.