What is Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) and How to Treat it Without Surgery?

If you feel a sharp, aching pain radiating from the outside of your elbow down to your arm when trying to open a tight jar lid in the kitchen, lifting a kettle full of water, turning a door handle, or shaking hands with someone, you are most likely experiencing Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)[cite: 47]. Although this condition gets its name from the sport of tennis, 90% of the patients who come to our clinic with this complaint are computer (mouse) users, chefs, housewives, carpenters, or hotel staff doing heavy lifting who have never played tennis in their lives[cite: 47].

Anatomically, Why Does Tennis Elbow Occur?

The root of the muscles that allow us to lift our wrist and fingers backward (upward) (extensor muscles) attaches to a small bony bump on the outside of our elbow (Lateral Epicondyle)[cite: 47]. When the wrist makes continuous, restless, repetitive, and strenuous movements (clicking a mouse, wringing a wet cloth, turning a screwdriver, painting, etc.), tiny, micro-level tears occur at the point where these muscles attach to the bone (in the tendon)[cite: 47]. Over time, an obstinate, chronic inflammation (tendinitis) and degeneration process begins in this area[cite: 47]. The real cause of the pain is these microscopic tears[cite: 47].

Our Non-Surgical Physiotherapy Solutions in Marmaris

When tennis elbow becomes chronic (exceeds 3 months), cortisone injections are resorted to[cite: 47]. However, because cortisone weakens the tissue, the first choice should always be conservative (manual) treatment[cite: 47]. Our protocol in the clinic includes[cite: 47]:

• Deep Friction (Cyriax) Massage: A very specific and intense cross-friction massage technique applied by the physiotherapist's fingers over the damaged, injured, and irregularly healed tendon tissue[cite: 47]. This massage mechanically breaks down the bad scar tissue in the area, triggers fresh blood flow, and initiates the weaving of new, strong collagen fibers (healing)[cite: 47].
• Dry Needling & Kinesiology Taping: Thin needles are applied to trigger points to reduce stress and excessive contraction in the forearm muscles[cite: 47]. Then, Kinesio taping is applied to drain the edema and support the tendon[cite: 47].
• Eccentric Muscle Strengthening Exercises: This is the globally accepted "gold standard" treatment method in tendon repair[cite: 47]. These are very special clinical exercises where the muscle resists tension while lengthening (slowly releasing the movement), strengthening the micro-tears[cite: 47].