The Back Pain Doctor
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are tendinopathies of the muscles that attach around the elbow. Despite the names, they are usually related to repetitive load rather than to playing a particular sport.
The most important treatment is a graded exercise program that progressively loads the affected tendon, alongside modifying the activities that aggravate it. This is well-evidenced and effective for many people, though it requires patience as tendons respond slowly.
For cases that do not settle with first-line measures, additional options such as shockwave therapy and PRP have been studied for elbow tendinopathy. We assess your elbow, confirm the diagnosis, and give you an honest view of which options are worth considering and which are not.
The options below include the treatments offered at The Back Pain Doctor. Listing a treatment does not mean it is recommended for this condition. The evidence, likely benefit and role of each option are considered against the diagnosis, examination findings, imaging where appropriate, patient goals, risks, cost and alternatives.
This is the starting point for most musculoskeletal conditions.
The priority is to identify the likely pain generator, explain the condition clearly, modify aggravating load and build a realistic plan to restore strength, movement and confidence.
Best supported when the diagnosis is a suitable tendinopathy or plantar heel pain presentation.
Shockwave may be clinically relevant when symptoms persist despite appropriate load management and rehabilitation. It remains an adjunct, not a substitute for progressive loading and diagnosis-specific care.
Read moreEvidence varies substantially by condition, tissue and preparation method.
PRP may be discussed in selected tendon or joint presentations. It should not be presented as a guaranteed regenerative treatment, and uncertainty, cost and alternatives should be discussed.
Read moreBest used for specific inflammatory or irritable pain generators, usually for short-term relief.
An injection may help when a joint, bursa, tendon sheath or other defined structure is driving symptoms. It is not a cure and needs to be weighed against risks, recurrence and the need for rehabilitation.
Read moreClinical evidence is still developing and guideline support is limited.
EMTT may be discussed as an adjunct in selected presentations, but should be presented with clear uncertainty and never as a replacement for diagnosis, load management or rehabilitation.
Read moreEvidence is condition-specific and generally less established than exercise-based care.
Prolotherapy may be considered in carefully selected chronic ligament, tendon or joint-related pain presentations, but it is not a first-line treatment.
Read moreMost relevant when focal myofascial pain is a clear contributor.
Trigger point treatment may reduce pain from focal muscle spasm or myofascial tenderness. It should be paired with movement restoration, strength work and recurrence prevention.
Read moreRelevant only when the history and examination support nerve irritation or entrapment.
Nerve-focused treatment may be discussed when there is a plausible peripheral nerve pain generator. Progressive weakness, major neurological deficit or red flags require a different pathway.
Read moreThis is general information only. Suitability is assessed individually. Treatments with limited or condition-dependent evidence may still be discussed, but only with clear explanation of uncertainty, expected benefit, risks, cost and alternatives. Red flags, progressive neurological symptoms or suspected serious pathology require a different pathway.
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