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What is the first treatment for tennis elbow?

How the structures involved in Tennis Elbow differ from normal
Illustration: How the structures involved in Tennis Elbow differ from normal

Short answer

The first treatment tried for tennis elbow is usually activity modification with gentle exercise therapy and pain relief.

This answers one question. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an assessment by a licensed doctor.

At a glance

Main target
Outer-elbow tendon load and forearm strength
Initial focus
Modify provoking activity and build capacity gradually

What this approach means

Tennis elbow, also called lateral elbow tendinopathy, involves irritation and reduced tolerance in the tendons on the outer side of the elbow. Repeated gripping, lifting or wrist movement can keep loading the area. Initial care aims to calm that load while preserving comfortable movement, rather than keeping the arm completely still.

A clinician may assess your grip, wrist motion, work tasks and sporting technique. Physiotherapy can then tailor exercise therapy to restore strength and control in the forearm. The plan may be adjusted if pain, weakness or your daily demands make a particular exercise unsuitable.

Practical first steps

Temporarily reduce the movements that reliably provoke pain, such as forceful gripping or repeated wrist extension, and use different tools or a lighter grip where possible. Keep the elbow and wrist moving within a tolerable range. A physiotherapist can teach progressive forearm loading, stretching and technique changes through [Exercise Therapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/exercise-therapy/) or [Physiotherapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/physiotherapy/).

If symptoms do not settle or interfere with work, a clinician may discuss options such as [Cortisone Injection](/treatments/non-surgical-orthopedics/cortisone-injection/), [PRP Injection](/treatments/non-surgical-orthopedics/prp-injection/) or [Shockwave Therapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/shockwave-therapy/). These choices depend on the examination and the pattern of symptoms.

When to seek care

Arrange an assessment if pain persists despite reducing aggravating activity, if grip weakness is increasing, or if symptoms limit sleep, work or routine tasks. Seek prompt care after a significant injury, or if the elbow is visibly deformed, very swollen, hot and red, or accompanied by fever or new numbness.

Questions for your doctor

Could another condition be causing the outer-elbow pain? Which activities should I change, and how should exercise progress? What findings would make an injection or another treatment reasonable?

Find care

General Clinics & Polyclinics in Abu Dhabi

That answer is general. If you want it applied to your own case, these are licensed general clinics & polyclinics listed in Abu Dhabi.

City
See every listing in Abu Dhabi

Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.

A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.

Questions people ask

Should I stop using the arm completely?

Usually, complete rest is unnecessary. Reduce painful loading while keeping comfortable movement and following a graded exercise plan.

When are injections considered?

A clinician may discuss an injection when symptoms remain limiting after assessment and an appropriate first-line plan.

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Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.