How long does tennis elbow take to heal?

Once diagnosed, it is unlikely to heal on its own. The recovery period varies between 12-18 months. There are non-surgical or minimally invasive treatments to speed up recovery.

• Rest: Tears in the tendons require rest to heal. It is important to allow time by stopping activities.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): drugs containing ibuprofen and naproxen can be used to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Wrist support: The specialist may recommend wearing a removable tennis elbow brace called a counterforce brace, which takes the strain off the tendons and muscles.
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy exercises will strengthen the forearm muscles and grip. You can also use tennis elbow massage and muscle stimulation techniques to reduce the pain. Steroid injections Injected corticosteroids can temporarily relieve joint pain and inflammation.
• Platelet (PRP) therapy: Platelets are small pieces of cells in the blood that support healing. In PRP treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn and platelets are separated from other blood cells and then injected into the painful area.
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy: With this treatment method, sound waves break down scar tissue and regulate blood flow to the painful area.
• Surgical intervention: Rarely preferred surgical intervention can be performed in cases where other treatments are inadequate.

In addition to these, you can alleviate the pain and contribute to the healing process by using tennis elbow exercises.

What are Tennis Elbow Exercises?

Tennis elbow exercises help strengthen the muscles and tendons in the elbows. Tennis elbow exercises can be listed as follows:

Elbow Extension and Bending: It is a type of exercise to strengthen the muscles in the elbow area. After sitting on a seat, bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle and then straighten your arms. You can do this exercise every day with slow movements.

Bending and Relaxation Exercise: To strengthen the muscles in the hand and wrist, wrap a rubber band around your hand to bend and relax your fingers. You can do this exercise gradually.

Forearm Twist Exercise: This is a type of exercise that strengthens the tendons and muscles in the elbow. Place your arm on the table and twist your wrist in slow movements with the help of a weight.

Squeezing Exercise: Take an object in your hand that is not too hard and not too soft and stabilize your arm. Squeeze the object in your hand, release it after 10 seconds and repeat this movement in sets.

Towel Bending Exercise: Hold a towel with both hands. Twist the towel at opposite ends as if you were squeezing the water out of it. You can repeat this type of exercise 10 times.

If you experience pain or discomfort during tennis elbow exercises, you should stop. Tennis elbow may improve in 1-2 months depending on the exercises and treatment methods, while in some it may take 1-2 years.