Tennis elbow treatment in Manchester
Ease the pain on the outside of your elbow, get your grip back and stop it flaring every time you lift, type or play.
Tennis elbow physio in Manchester city centre
Reviewed by Nick Chatziviltsos, PgDip, HCPC-registered physiotherapist (PH114351), November 2026
At a glance
Who gets it: Mostly adults aged 35 to 55, desk and manual workers, lifters and racket players. Most people with it have never played tennis.
Main symptom: Pain on the outside of the elbow when gripping, lifting a kettle or mug, shaking hands or typing.
Typical recovery: Most cases settle within 6 to 12 months, and the right exercise speeds this up.
Sessions: Most people need 4 to 6 over 8 to 12 weeks.
Avoid: Resting it completely, and repeated steroid injections, which can slow long-term recovery.
Get checked: Elbow pain after a fall, a hot swollen elbow, or numbness in the hand: see your GP.
Tennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow when you grip or lift. Despite the name, most people who get it don't play tennis. It's far more common in people who type, use tools, lift weights or carry children.
The NHS says tennis elbow usually gets better on its own, but it can take months. Physio speeds this up with the right loading, so the tendon can handle daily life again.
What a good physio adds is a clear answer to three questions. Is it really tennis elbow? What's overloading it? And how do you build the tendon back up without making it worse?
🛠️ How we treat tennis elbow
Step 1. Find the root cause
What's irritated: usually the tendon of the muscles that lift your wrist, where it attaches to the outside of the elbow
What's overloading it: mouse and keyboard work, gripping tools, wide-grip pulling, a new racket or a jump in training
What else is involved: your neck, shoulder and grip technique can all add load
We check your neck too. Pain referred from the neck can feel very similar.
Step 2. Settle the tendon
Isometric holds to ease pain without irritating the tendon
Changes to your grip, workstation or training, such as a thicker grip or a vertical mouse
Soft tissue work and IASTM on the forearm, plus a brace if it helps
Step 3. Build strength back
Slow, heavy wrist extensions, then rotation and grip work
Rehab on the gym floor at F45 NQ, rebuilding rows, pull-ups and carries
Return to sport, including your racket and swing technique
We finish when you can grip, lift and play with confidence.
Want to know what's overloading your elbow and how to fix it? Your first 60-minute session finds out and starts treatment the same day. Book your assessment →
🔍 What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow, or lateral elbow tendinopathy, is a problem with the tendon that attaches the wrist extensor muscles to the outside of the elbow. It's not mainly inflammation. The tendon has been asked to do more than it can currently handle, and it has become sensitive and weaker.
How it compares with other elbow problems
Tennis elbow: outside of the elbow; pain gripping with the palm facing down.
Golfer's elbow: inside of the elbow; pain gripping and bending the wrist.
Pain from the neck: outside of the elbow and forearm; neck stiffness, pins and needles.
Radial tunnel syndrome: forearm just below the elbow; aching, sometimes weakness.
⚠️ Tennis elbow symptoms
Pain on the outside of the elbow, sometimes spreading down the forearm
Pain lifting a kettle, mug or shopping bag
Weak grip, dropping things
Pain shaking hands or turning a door handle
Stiffness in the morning
🔍 What causes tennis elbow?
Common triggers we see in Manchester
Long hours with a mouse and keyboard
Gripping tools, from screwdrivers to paintbrushes
Wide-grip rows, pull-ups and deadlifts, especially after a training jump
Racket sports, particularly backhands with poor technique
Lifting a baby or toddler many times a day
What doesn't usually cause it
It's not arthritis, and it doesn't mean the tendon is torn. It's a load problem, which means it can be fixed with the right load.
🧪 How we assess tennis elbow
Your story. Your work, training and hobbies, and what brings the pain on.
Safety screen.
Elbow tests, such as resisted wrist and middle-finger extension.
Grip strength, with the elbow bent and straight.
Neck and nerve checks to rule out referred pain.
Shoulder and wrist checks.
Your diagnosis and plan, with how many sessions we expect.
🛠️ Tennis elbow treatment at Athos Physio
Settle (weeks 0 to 2). Ease pain. Isometric holds, load changes, soft tissue work, brace if helpful.
Load (weeks 2 to 6). Rebuild tendon strength. Slow wrist extensions, rotation work, grip squeezes.
Strengthen (weeks 6 to 10). Strength for work and gym. Heavier wrist and grip work, rows, carries.
Return (week 10 onwards). Full work, gym and sport. Sport drills, technique, long-term plan.
Most people need 4 to 6 sessions over 8 to 12 weeks, with a home programme of about 10 minutes a day.
What actually works for tennis elbow?
Recommended: progressive strengthening exercise for the forearm; changing the activities that overload it, without stopping completely; advice and reassurance: most cases get better.
Not recommended as a first choice: steroid injections. A large trial (Coombes and colleagues, 2013) found they eased pain short term but led to worse results at a year than placebo; surgery, except in rare cases after a long period of good rehab.
⏱️ How long does tennis elbow last?
Recent, mild tennis elbow: feeling much better: 4 to 6 weeks; back to full use: 8 to 12 weeks.
Long-standing tennis elbow: feeling much better: 2 to 3 months; back to full use: 4 to 6 months.
✅ Tennis elbow at work and in the gym
At your desk
Try a vertical mouse and keep your wrist level
Keep the mouse close so your elbow stays by your side
Take short breaks every 30 to 45 minutes
In the gym
Use a neutral or underhand grip for rows and pull-ups for now
Add lifting straps for heavy pulling
Keep training legs and the other arm
Self-help
Lift with your palm facing up where you can
An elbow strap can ease pain during activity
Ice or heat, whichever feels better
Related conditions
Golfer's elbow: pain on the inside of the elbow when you grip or pull
De Quervain's tenosynovitis: pain on the thumb side of the wrist
Trapped nerve in the neck: neck pain with pins and needles down the arm
Sprained wrist: wrist pain and swelling after a fall or twist
❓ Tennis elbow FAQs
🚨 Physio, GP or A&E?
Book a physio (no GP referral needed): pain on the outside of the elbow when gripping or lifting; pain that hasn't improved after 4 to 6 weeks of changing activity; numbness or tingling in the hand, or neck pain (book a physio assessment; we'll check your neck and nerves).
Call your GP urgently or 111: a hot, swollen elbow with fever (see your GP the same day).
Call 999 or go to A&E: severe pain, swelling or deformity after a fall (go to A&E or a minor injuries unit).
If you're ever unsure, ring us on 07475 433300 and we'll tell you honestly whether you should see us or someone else first.
Not sure whether you need a physio, an injection or a GP? Book a free 15-minute call and we'll tell you honestly. Book a free call →
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Yes. Progressive strengthening and changes to how you load your arm are the main treatments.
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The NHS says it usually gets better on its own, but it can take months. Exercise usually speeds it up.
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Not completely. Reduce what hurts, keep using the arm, and build strength back gradually.
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It can ease pain during activity for some people. It works best alongside exercise.
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It may ease pain for a few weeks, but research suggests worse results at a year. Most people do better with exercise.
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Usually yes, with changes to grip and some lifts.
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Most people need 4 to 6 over 8 to 12 weeks.
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No. You can book directly with us.
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Your first 60-minute assessment and treatment is £95. Follow-up sessions are £55 for 30 minutes, £95 for 60 minutes or £135 for 90 minutes.
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Yes. Book a free 15-minute consultation and we'll tell you honestly whether physio is the right next step.
📍 Book tennis elbow physio in Manchester city centre
Athos Physio is inside F45 NQ, 77 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2BU, a two-minute walk from Piccadilly station and Piccadilly Gardens. We're open 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, so you can come in before or after work.
Your first appointment is a 60-minute assessment and treatment (£95). Follow-ups are £55 for 30 minutes, £95 for 60 minutes or £135 for 90 minutes. We work with Bupa, WPA, Vitality and Aviva, and you can see all our fees on the price list.
Can't get into town? We also offer home physio visits and online physiotherapy. Not sure physio is right for you? Book a free 15-minute call and we'll talk it through.
Call or WhatsApp 07475 433300, or book online.
Other services: Physiotherapy and active rehab · Sports massage · Pregnancy and postnatal physio · Home visits · Online physio
Written by Nick Chatziviltsos, physiotherapist and founder of Athos Physio, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, HCPC registered. Last reviewed: November 2026.
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Athos Physio is a full-service physiotherapy clinic
We offer injury rehabilitation, post-surgery functional strengthening, deep tissue massage and pain relief, and strength training expertise. We support you in becoming pain-free so that you can achieve a limitless life experience. If you want to speak with us before booking a session you reach out via WhatsApp, call us or email us.
We are based in Manchester city centre a couple of minutes walk from Piccadilly train station and Piccadilly Gardens Square