How Long Does Tennis Elbow Last? How Long *Should* It?
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Affecting 1-3% of the US population each year, Tennis Elbow is a common condition. Especially if you play racquet sports, work with hand-held tools, or otherwise engage in repetitive movements of your hand, wrist, or arm, you may deal with recurring elbow pain that lingers for weeks or months. How long does Tennis Elbow last?
They say: a vast majority of people recover from Tennis Elbow within one year. We say: that's far too long. The right question is this: how long should Tennis Elbow last? And what can you do to make sure your timeline is as short as possible? Let's dive in.
Tennis Elbow, or Lateral Epicondylitis, is a repetitive stress injury that affects a tendon in the elbow called the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB). This tendon helps you extend your wrist and fingers.
Despite the name, Tennis Elbow isn’t exclusive to tennis players; it can develop in anyone who performs repetitive arm and wrist movements, such as typing, gardening, using tools, or lifting objects.
The condition develops gradually as the ECRB tendon undergoes repeated stress, which can lead to tiny tears in the tendon’s fibers. Over time, these tears accumulate, causing pain, inflammation, and a weakening of the tendon.
If left untreated, Tennis Elbow can become a chronic condition, making everyday tasks like gripping a doorknob or lifting a coffee mug painful and difficult. For a more in-depth look, check out our post on what Tennis Elbow is (and why some treatments keep people in pain).
How long Tennis Elbow symptoms last can vary widely from person to person. For some, the discomfort may be mild and resolve within a few weeks with basic home care, while the pain can linger for months or even longer for others.
Surveys have found that about 80% of people who develop Tennis Elbow find pain relief within a year. This statistic includes individuals whose symptoms resolve on their own, as well as those who actively pursue treatment.
Some doctors might say that's fast enough and the pain is mild enough, so just give it a rest. We disagree. One year is a long time to deal with pain. When every twist of a jar in the kitchen or grip of a drill at the job site causes pain, it can feel like an eternity.
And you shouldn't have to deal with Tennis Elbow pain for months or stop doing what brings you joy, because with the right approach, most people can get Tennis Elbow relief that lasts. (Don't worry - we'll get to this in a bit!)
Techniques such as the ICE/POLICE approach (Protection, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, Elevation), taking a break from activities that cause pain, and using NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can help alleviate the initial symptoms. To make sure the underlying tissue is healing and you're heading toward full resolution, we need to incorporate active treatment approaches.
If you’ve just developed Tennis Elbow, there’s a good chance that it'll resolve relatively quickly without active treatment.
At the early stage, the ECRB tendon is irritated and has developed small tears from repetitive stress, but the tissue itself hasn’t become the root cause.
The key to quick recovery at this point? Managing early symptoms before they worsen.
When you first notice a dull ache on the outside of your elbow or in the upper forearm (where the ECRB tendon is located) while gripping or holding something, either stop or modify the activities that cause you pain. Rest and modification give the tendon a break. This way, you can prevent the condition from becoming chronic.
If your job or hobbies involve movements that aggravate your Tennis Elbow, consider wearing our Tennis Elbow Brace to relieve pain and reduce the stress on the tendon when you engage in these activities.
With an effective brace, you can stop the tendon from taking on additional damage. If you aren’t sure if your elbow pain is actually Tennis Elbow, take the Tennis Elbow test that physical therapists use to diagnose the condition.
If you’ve been struggling with Tennis Elbow for more than a few months, the condition has likely progressed to a stage where the tiny tears in the tendon have turned into scar tissue. Unlike healthy tendon tissue, which is strong and well-organized, scar tissue is weaker, less flexible, and more prone to further damages.
At this point, rest and bracing alone won’t be enough to heal your Tennis Elbow. Active treatment is necessary to transform the underlying issue and facilitate the regeneration of healthy tissue.
The good news is that with the right treatment, you can still fully resolve Tennis Elbow, even if it has become chronic. The duration can vary, of course, but you can expect about 8-10 weeks to arrive at full resolution.
We'd encourage you to approach the healing process with patience and persistence. Chronic pain conditions take some time and consistent effort to resolve, in addition to following the correct treatment.
To truly resolve Tennis Elbow and prevent it from recurring, you need to address the root cause of the condition, not just the symptoms. In New Zealand, where physical therapy is a primary treatment for chronic pain conditions like Tennis Elbow, physical therapists use a combination of three key methodologies:
Load Management: This involves reducing or modifying stress placed on the ECRB tendon. The reduction can come from modifying the activities themselves, or wearing a brace for Tennis Elbow to change the load on your elbow. Essentially, effective load management gives the tendon a chance to heal and prevents further aggravation.
Soft Tissue Mobilization: This technique includes massage and other hands-on work on the affected tissue to transform scar tissue on the tendon and release tension in the surrounding tissue.
Progressive Strengthening: Building strength in the muscles and tendons above and below the elbow helps support the tendon and prevents future injury. A well-structured Tennis Elbow exercise program like our Guided Recovery Program moves you step by step, gradually restoring the function and resilience of your entire kinetic chain, which resolves the root cause of flare-ups.
If you’re looking for an at-home Tennis Elbow solution that replicates these effective methods used in PT offices, the Tennis Elbow System is a good option. With our three-step approach, you can take control of Tennis Elbow, even if it has been bothering you for months. With our program, most people can expect to see a noticeable improvement within the first few days, followed by significant, lasting improvements within 8-10 weeks.
It’s completely normal to feel this way! Almost everyone gets frustrated or discouraged more than once when working on resolving a chronic pain condition like Tennis Elbow.
Recovery is rarely a straight path; there are always ups and downs along the way. The key is to stay consistent with your treatment plan and remain patient.
If you feel like you’ve hit a wall in your recovery, head to our post on “Tennis Elbow Not Getting Better,” where we share five strategies to help you move past any bumps on the road to full recovery. Sometimes, a slight change in your approach can make all the difference.
Tennis Elbow can be a stubborn condition, but it's possible to overcome it with the right treatment and mindset. Whether your Tennis Elbow resolves on its own or requires active intervention, taking a proactive approach will give you the best chance of a full recovery.
Don’t let the pain linger longer than it needs to—start your recovery work today with us!
Alleviate was founded by a patient-and-clinician duo to bring the effective chronic pain treatment from physical therapy offices to everyone's home. With our Tennis Elbow System that includes all the tools and guidance you need, you can use the Alleviate Method to recover from Tennis Elbow at home.
Duration and Recovery: While 80% of people experience relief within a year, recovery time can vary widely; early treatment and activity modification are crucial to prevent the condition from becoming chronic.
Active Treatment for Chronic Cases: If symptoms persist beyond three months, active treatments like load management, soft tissue mobilization, and progressive strengthening are necessary for recovery.
Mindset and Persistence: Recovery from Tennis Elbow requires patience and consistency with treatment, and even chronic cases can improve with the right approach and mindset.
Use a Comprehensive Treatment Plan: Include progressive strengthening, a good brace, and scar tissue transformation in your treatment plan for holistic recovery. Even with a chronic case, you can recover within 8-10 weeks.
Luke Ferdinands, Physical Therapist & Co-Founder
A New Zealand-trained physical therapist with over 20 years of experience, Luke developed the Alleviate Method to bring the gold standard of physical therapy care to everyone's home. Luke leads the development of physical tools and digital physical therapy content, focusing on driving clinical outcomes for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions like Tennis Elbow, Plantar Fasciitis, Runner's Knee, and more.
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