Does physical therapy help elbow pain?
Physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to recover from tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylalgia. The goal is to reduce pain, rebuild tendon strength, and help you return to normal activities.
Physical therapy improves how your arm handles load by restoring strength, mobility, and motor control, while supporting your body’s natural pain regulation. It’s considered a first-line treatment in major clinical guidelines because it addresses the underlying tendon changes rather than masking symptoms.¹ ²
Compared with rest or passive treatments, exercise-based programs that combine progressive wrist extensor strengthening, manual therapy, and education about load management consistently lead to better outcomes in pain and function.³ ⁴
Studies show that most people with tennis elbow improve within several weeks of starting a structured exercise program, with up to 89% reporting major recovery within one year without surgery.²
Goals of physical therapy for elbow pain
Physical therapy helps you move with confidence again. Treatment focuses on:
- Reducing pain and easing daily tasks like typing, lifting, or carrying objects
- Improving grip strength and tendon tolerance through progressive loading
- Restoring shoulder and arm control to prevent recurrence
- Building long-term resilience for work or sport demands
Short-term goals often include pain relief and regaining comfortable movement. Long-term goals focus on returning to normal function, preventing flare-ups, and rebuilding tendon capacity.
Programs are always personalized and your therapist will adjust load, intensity, and progression to match your recovery phase.
Did you know?
Most people recover from tennis elbow without any injections or surgery. Nearly 9 in 10 report major improvement within one year.² Exercise therapy, especially eccentric and combined strengthening, has stronger evidence for long-term relief than passive treatments like ultrasound or shockwave therapy.³ ⁴ ⁶
What results can I expect with physical therapy?
Recovery is gradual but reliable for most people.
- Timeline: Many begin noticing improvements in 6–12 weeks, with steady gains over 3–6 months. Full recovery commonly occurs within 6–12 months.² ⁵
- Benefits: Less pain with gripping and lifting, stronger forearm muscles, improved sleep and confidence in daily use, and lower risk of recurrence.
- Individual variation: Recovery speed depends on activity levels, work and sports demands, and consistency with exercises—each person’s journey is unique.
In a large population study, only about 1–2% of people ultimately required surgery for tennis elbow, showing how effective conservative care can be.²
How Sword can help
Sword makes recovery easier and more accessible. You get high-quality care at home, guided by clinicians and supported by smart technology.
- Care that adapts to your progress in real time
- Licensed experts guiding every step
- Simple, non-invasive, evidence-based programs
- Proven results for pain relief, movement, and satisfaction
Clinical insight
