How Alex Healed His Tennis Elbow at Home: a Success Story
|
|
|
Read in 4 min
Get free shipping on orders over {{threshold}}!
|
|
|
Read in 4 min
My name is Alex. This is my story of treating Tennis Elbow myself, using the at-home Tennis Elbow treatment system from Alleviate.
I’m a physician by training, but athletics has always been a big part of my life. For years, I competed as a driver, until an eye issue forced me to step away from that world. I needed a new outlet, something that still satisfied my competitive drive and love of training. So I transitioned to golf and weight training.
At first, it felt like a natural shift. Golf gave me structure and challenge, and weight training helped me maintain strength and focus. But over time, the repetitive movements from both of these activities began to take a toll. I started noticing discomfort on the inside of my elbow—medial epicondylitis, or “golfer’s elbow.” (Here's a comparison between Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer's Elbow.)
Like many people, I ignored it initially. I told myself it was minor, something that would go away on its own. It didn’t. That early decision to push through probably turned what could have been a short-lived issue into more of a chronic condition.
Not long after, I added over-speed golf training with weighted clubs. That’s when the outside of my elbow flared up. This time, I recognized the signs early; it was clearly lateral epicondylitis (AKA Tennis Elbow). The pain never became severe, probably topping out around a 4 out of 10. Still, it was limiting. Pull-ups became painful. Wrist flexion and extension were uncomfortable. Even routine loading reminded me something wasn’t right. Palpation over the lateral elbow was clearly tender.
By that point, the lateral elbow pain had been present for several months, so I decided to get more deliberate about treating it. Luckily, a friend of mine recommended the Tennis Elbow System from Alleviate, which, he told me, was designed by a physical therapist for people to self-treat this specific injury at home.
The System came with four components:
I started using the brace and massager, initially a couple of times per week. It didn’t take long for me to notice that my elbow was feeling better afterward.
Encouraged, I started using them more: five times a week. As someone with a packed schedule, I appreciated having a home-based, PT-guided solution that didn’t require clinic visits.
The Guided Recovery Program that came with the System was surprisingly helpful. The six-level program of PT exercises for Tennis Elbow was educational and let me progress gradually. The program included rest days, which forced me to temper my tendency to overdo things when I start seeing positive progress.
Looking at my own data, the best results clearly came when I used the tools in the Tennis Elbow System at least three times a week. The exercises were straightforward, but I will say, getting the brace positioned correctly took some trial and error. The App’s guidance on how to wear the Tennis Elbow Brace helped, though I had to develop a feel for how much tightness was just right for me.
Over the course of the next four to six weeks, the improvement was complete. I no longer felt Tennis Elbow pain during activities. I was able to train again without that constant background discomfort. The only thing that remained was mild tenderness if I pressed directly on the affected area.
The medial side (i.e., Golfer's Elbow), which I haven’t actively treated, didn’t improve in the same way. My symptoms still linger to this day. In my mind, this difference in outcomes clearly showcases the effectiveness of the Tennis Elbow System, and I’ve asked Alleviate to develop a similar solution to Golfer’s Elbow!
As the pain faded, my motivation to use the brace naturally dropped. That’s human nature. Still, I’ve made a point to keep wearing the brace during higher-stress activities as a preventive measure. I know how easily overuse can bring symptoms back.
As a physician, I’m well aware that the quick improvement I saw could have been partly driven by motivation and placebo effect. There’s something powerful about committing to a new regimen, but the functional improvement felt real, kept me motivated to keep working at it, and most importantly, didn’t fade.
Even if some of the early improvement came from a placebo effect, I’m still quite impressed by the Tennis Elbow System. It’s easy to use, guides you along, and seems to resolve the root cause of the pain for a long-term resolution.
Soft tissue injuries like Tennis Elbow are known for recurrences, but so far, I haven’t had one. (Knock on wood!) That said, I know the risk is still there if I get careless and ramp up training too quickly even if everything feels “normal” again. This experience has been a reminder, both as a patient and a physician, that early intervention, consistency, and respecting recovery matter just as much as pushing performance.
Key takeaways:
Treat it early, before it gets worse: Alex's progress with Tennis Elbow recovery was quick, partly because he noticed the symptoms early, and started treating it proactively.
Get comprehensive treatment: physical therapy is one of the best Tennis Elbow treatments, when done right. Use all three methods great PTs use to treat Tennis Elbow, so that you get quick relief that doesn't fade.
Prevention is the best medicine: even after your full recovery, you're unfortunately more susceptible to Tennis Elbow flare-ups. Wear your brace during intense activities, and incorporate the Tennis Elbow exercises into your daily routine to keep flare-ups at bay.
Start Your Recovery
Tennis Elbow System
$183.20
$229.00
Sign up for insider info about beta testing, new Alleviate products, and updates from our team.
