Acupuncture for Tennis & Golfer's Elbow
Pain on the outside or inside of the elbow almost always starts
somewhere upstream of the elbow itself.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) cause pain at the outside or inside of the elbow, respectively, typically worsened by gripping, lifting, or repetitive wrist motion — from racquet sports and golf, but just as often from typing, lifting, or manual work.
Why It Happens
Both conditions stem from overload at the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the elbow. Repetitive gripping or wrist motion without enough recovery time creates small-scale tendon breakdown at the attachment point — similar in nature to what happens at the Achilles or plantar fascia, just on a smaller scale.
How We Treat It
We needle directly at the affected tendon and through the forearm musculature to reduce local irritation and improve circulation, then work up the kinetic chain — wrist, shoulder, and neck mechanics, along with the fascial planes running the length of the arm — to address what's really driving the overload at the elbow.
Alongside the structural work, we assess for underlying imbalances — in circulation, inflammation, nervous system regulation, and recovery capacity — that may be slowing the healing response or making the tissue more vulnerable to injury in the first place.
What to Expect
Many patients notice improvement within 4–6 visits, with full resolution generally taking 6–8 weeks depending on how long symptoms have been present and how much the aggravating activity can be modified in the meantime.
→ Part of Revive + Root's Tendinitis & Overuse Injuries care
→ Learn about Revive + Root's approach to orthopedic care