Why elbow pain keeps coming back
Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are overuse injuries to the tendons on the outside or inside of the elbow, usually from repetitive gripping, swinging, or typing.
The tendon irritation is the symptom — the cause is almost always a repetitive load the forearm and elbow weren't prepared to handle, whether that's a racket, a keyboard, or a set of dumbbells. Rest alone tends to bring it back the moment you return to the activity, so we build the tissue's capacity back up alongside calming the current irritation.
Signs you might be dealing with it
- Pain on the outside or inside of the elbow that's worse with gripping
- Soreness that flares with a specific activity — racket sports, lifting, or typing
- Weakness in your grip strength
- Pain that radiates slightly into the forearm
- Discomfort that's been sticking around for weeks rather than resolving
Relieve, rehab, strengthen — applied to elbow pain
Assess
We check the elbow, wrist, and forearm mechanics together, along with what activity is loading the area repeatedly.
Relieve
Soft tissue work and adjustments to calm the tendon irritation and reduce pain.
Rebuild
Progressive loading to build the forearm and grip strength that keeps the same overuse pattern from coming back.
What relief actually looks like
"Dr. Li is the absolute best! She has taken care of my neck and more recently my broken elbow, she takes the time to understand what my issues are and works magic. I had been struggling to find help for my elbow and Dr. Li scheduled me in ASAP and has provided great care and I can see tremendous improvement with her!"
Elbow pain, answered
Click a question for the answer — or see the full FAQ for pricing, insurance, and what to expect.
Do I need to stop playing tennis or golf to fix elbow pain?
Not necessarily — we'll tell you what to modify while we work through it, with the goal of getting you back to full activity, not sidelining you indefinitely.
What's the difference between tennis elbow and golfer's elbow?
Tennis elbow affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow, golfer's elbow the inside — both are overuse injuries from repetitive gripping or swinging, and both respond to a similar relieve-rehab-strengthen approach.
Will a brace fix my elbow pain?
A brace can reduce strain in the short term, but it doesn't address the underlying tendon capacity or the movement pattern causing the overload — that's what the rehab and strength phase is for.
How long does elbow pain take to resolve?
It varies with how long you've had it, but many people notice improvement within several weeks of consistent care as the tendon settles and strengthens.