Chronic Pain

Tennis Elbow exercise guide

Lateral epicondylitis is pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow where the forearm extensor muscles attach. Common in activities involving repetitive gripping and wrist extension. Affects 1-3% of the population and up to 50% of tennis players.

Prescriptions

Cautions

Safety notes

Avoid high-force gripping and fast wrist extension movements in early phases. Start with isometrics before progressing to eccentric exercises. Pain 3-4/10 during exercise is acceptable if it settles within 24 hours. Heavy deadlifts, carries, and pull-ups with tight grip should be avoided until late stages.

Contraindications

Avoid Completely

high_force_grip: High-force gripping stresses the lateral epicondyle where extensor muscles attach, aggravating tennis elbow.

Modify: Use lighter grip, padded handles, or two-handed grips where possible.

Avoid Completely

fast_wrist_extension: Fast wrist extension movements stress the extensor tendons at the lateral epicondyle.

Modify: Slow all wrist extension movements to 3+ seconds per rep.

Use Caution

Reverse Curl: Reverse curls stress the wrist extensors and may aggravate tennis elbow.

Modify: Use very light weight and slow tempo. Avoid if lateral elbow pain increases.

Use Caution

Reverse Prayer Stretch: Reverse prayer stretch stretches wrist extensors and may aggravate acute tennis elbow.

Modify: Avoid in acute phase. Use gently in chronic phase if it does not increase pain.

Prescribed exercise pathways

Phase and safety-level mappings make condition guidance actionable for home programs, clinician plans, and future personalization.

Prescriptions are being reviewed

This condition module is live; exercise prescriptions will appear as reviewed mappings are published.