Chapter 17 · Elbow
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylalgia) protocol
Indexed — full page in progressSource: Rehab Science · Ch 17 · PDF pp. 465–483📖 Rehab ScienceBuild my programme →
AMBER — get assessed before starting rehab
Screen for red flags before starting any protocol (safety check). Progress by symptoms and function, not by the calendar: > 3/10 pain → start phase 1; < 3/10 → phase 2 (PDF p. 205).Follow this programme to treat
- Pain on the outside or lateral aspect of the elbow (where the forearm connects to the elbow)
Conditions in this protocol
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia) PDF p. 465
Questions the book answers
Good for
- Alleviating lateral elbow pain
- Relieving muscle tension
- Warm-up for phase 2 and 3 exercises
Guidelines
- Perform every day
- Tools: small massage ball, foam roller
- Add phase 2 when you have no pain at rest and no more than mild pain (3/10) with the exercises
Soft Tissue Mobilizations
▶ Spend 1–2 minutes on each area · Perform in any order on both sides · Stop on tender points for 10–20 seconds
Mobility Exercises
▶ Do 3 sets of 10–15 reps · Move as far as you can with no more than mild pain · Pause at end range for 2–3 seconds
Good for
- Alleviating lateral elbow pain
- Improving wrist mobility
- Early tendon strengthening
- Warm-up for phase 3 exercises
Guidelines
- Perform every day
- Tools: dumbbell, finger exerciser
- Add phase 3 when you can do the exercises with no more than mild pain (3/10)
Exercises
diagram pending
Pectoral stretch
PDF p. 474 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Wrist extensor stretch
PDF p. 475 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Wrist extensor isometrics
PDF p. 476 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Resisted finger extensor
PDF p. 477 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Wrist flexion and extension mobility
PDF p. 478 · instructions pending
Good for
- Strengthening the extensor tendons and forearm muscles
- Preventing tennis elbow–related pain
Guidelines
- Perform 3 or 4 days a week
- Do 3 sets of 10–15 reps unless otherwise noted
- Push sets to fatigue
- Tools: dumbbells
Exercises
diagram pending
Wrist extensor curl
PDF p. 480 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Supinator and pronator curl
PDF p. 481 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Radial deviator curl
PDF p. 482 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Farmer’s carry
PDF p. 482 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Bent-over lateral raise
PDF p. 483 · instructions pending
Source: Rehab Science · Ch 17 · PDF pp. 465–476· 4 original research citationsshow sources ▾
Also cited by the book on these pages:
- [Ch 17·1] Lenoir H, Mares O, Carlier Y. Management of lateral epicondylitis. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2019;105(8S):S241-S246. find original ↗
- [Ch 17·2] Kim YJ, Wood SM, Yoon AP, Howard JC, Yang LY, Chung KC. Efficacy of nonoperative treatments for lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021;147(1):112-125. find original ↗
- [Ch 17·3] Landesa-Piñeiro L, Leirós-Rodríguez R. Physiotherapy treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2022;35(3):463-477. find original ↗
- [Ch 17·4] Cullinane FL, Boocock MG, Trevelyan FC. Is eccentric exercise an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis? A systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2014;28(1):3-19. find original ↗
Page numbers are those of the uploaded PDF edition. "Find original" opens a PubMed search for the cited study.