Tennis & golfer's elbow
Six months of
“it’ll settle”.
It did not settle. Tendon problems do not resolve on rest alone — they resolve on the right load, which is a different thing entirely.
Why it is still there
The elbow is
where it shows up
Grip, forearm, shoulder and neck all load that tendon, and the elbow is simply where the complaint surfaces. Treating the sore point and nothing else is why it comes back the week you pick up a racquet, a drill or a kettle.
The assessment looks at grip strength, what the forearm and shoulder are doing, which movements reproduce it, and how much load the tendon currently tolerates — because that number is where any sensible plan starts.
Sound familiar
What people describe
- A kettle, a door handle or a coffee cup is the thing that reminds you
- It eased off while you rested it and came straight back when you did not
- A brace helps while it is on and changes nothing when it is off
- It is worse the morning after you used it, not during
- You have stopped doing the thing that caused it and it has not fixed itself
What happens
Hands-on, then
something to do
Hands-on work through the forearm and the attachment, plus dry needling where it earns its place. Firm, and explained before it happens.
The part that matters most is what you leave with: a specific, boring, progressive loading plan. Tendons respond to that and to very little else.
What else we treat
The others we
see most
Neck & shoulders
The one that starts at 3pm and is still there at bedtime.
Low back
Fine until you bend to put your shoes on.
Headaches
Starting at the base of the skull, not behind the eyes.
Desk & posture pain
Eight hours a day in one shape has consequences.
Sports injuries
The niggle you are still training on.
Practical
Before you call
Health funds
Claim it
on the spot
- Medibank
- Bupa
- HCF
- nib
- HBF
- Australian Unity
- ahm
HICAPS is on the desk, and it is connected to every private health insurer in Australia — not just the ones listed. Tap your card after the appointment, the rebate comes off on the spot, and you pay the gap rather than the lot.
What comes back depends on your level of extras cover, and myotherapy is not on every policy. The terminal tells you the exact number before you leave the room, so there is no invoice to chase and nothing to find out later.
FAQ
Questions people actually ask
I do not play tennis. Is it still tennis elbow?
Almost nobody who has it does. It is a tendon at the outside of the elbow and the usual culprits are tools, keyboards, kettlebells and babies. Golfer's elbow is the same problem on the inside.
How long does it take?
Longer than anyone wants to hear. Tendons are slow, and a problem that has been there six months is usually a matter of months rather than weeks. Dale will give you a realistic read at the first visit rather than an optimistic one.
Should I keep using it?
Usually yes, within limits that get set at the assessment. Complete rest is what got most people here.
Book about your elbow
Forty minutes in Mornington. An honest read on how long it will take, and a plan that loads it properly.