Tennis Elbow: Insights from the Clinic to the Course

Matt Campbell
May 24
2 min read

Over the past three months, we've been working with Ashun Wu to help him recover from tennis elbow.This repetitive strain injury, which affects the outside of the elbow, is more common than you might think—especially in golfers. Ashun has worked through the frustrations of this injury and has come out the other side, winning his home event in China.

Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for tennis elbow. But if you follow the right steps and seek support from a qualified health practitioner, you’re well on your way to getting back to your best.

Tennis Elbow in Golfers – Understanding & Managing Lateral Epicondylitis

At Vitality Golf Performance, we work with golfers of all ages and skill levels—from weekend players to tour professionals—helping them manage pain, improve mobility, and optimise performance. One common condition we see is lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), typically affecting the lead arm (left arm for right-handed golfers).

Tennis elbow often relates to golf swing habits such as:

Cupping the wrist at the top of the backswing
Casting (early wrist release in the downswing)
Chicken winging through impact
Overgripping or using ill-fitted clubs
Limited mobility in the thoracic spine or hips, forcing the arms to overcompensate

These movement patterns place repetitive strain on the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB) and Supinator, leading to microtears and inflammation at the lateral epicondyle.

Hands-On Treatment in Clinic

These are the same treatment protocols used with Ashun Wu:

Soft Tissue Release: Targeted work on the wrist extensors, supinator, and surrounding fascia
Dry Needling: To reduce tone and sensitivity in overloaded forearm muscles (when appropriate)
Joint Mobilisation: Focus on the radial head, elbow, cervical spine, and thoracic segments
Myofascial Release: For dense fascial restrictions
Taping/Bracing: To offload tendon stress during rounds
Technique Check: Identifying swing or movement patterns that overload the elbow

🏡 At-Home Exercises for Golfers

Note: This is a general guide. Everyone is different and requires personalised care. See your local osteopath, golf instructor, or allied health practitioner for tailored advice.

Phase 1 – Relief & Mobility

Gentle Wrist Extensor Stretch: Elbow straight, wrist flexed with light pressure (no pain)
Ice Massage: Circular motion over the lateral elbow for 5–10 minutes post-activity⚠️ Avoid aggressive stretching early on—it may worsen irritation.

💪 Phase 2 – Strength Rebuild

Eccentric Wrist Extensions: Light dumbbell, slow lowering phase(3 sets of 10 reps daily)
FlexBar Tyler Twist: Introduce once pain is minimal with basic loading

🏌️ Phase 3 – Golf-Specific Conditioning

Isometric Grip Squeeze: Using a tennis ball or golf grip, hold for 3 x 30 seconds
Thoracic Mobility Drills: Open books, thread the needle, cat-cow stretches
Scapular Stability Work: Prone Y/T/W holds, banded rows

✅ Key Considerations

Don’t play through significant pain
Golfers with poor hip or thoracic mobility often compensate with the arms—address the full kinetic chain
Early diagnosis and a tailored rehab plan are crucial for a speedy recovery
Education and swing technique assessments are part of treatment at Vitality Golf Performance