Rehabilitation Approaches for Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy: A Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Lateral elbow tendinopathy, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition causing pain and functional impairment at the lateral elbow. Physiotherapy is central to its conservative management. This review synthesises current evidence on rehabilitation approaches for lateral elbow tendinopathy. It examines the principal interventions, including exercise therapy with an emphasis on eccentric and progressive resistance training, manual therapy, load management and bracing, education and activity modification, and adjunctive modalities, and reviews evidence regarding their effects on pain, grip strength and function. The literature indicates that exercise therapy, particularly eccentric and progressive resistance training, is the core and most strongly supported intervention, that manual therapy and load management provide useful adjuncts, and that a combined, individualised approach is most effective, while passive modalities have a more limited role. The review emphasises an active, exercise-based and individualised approach and appropriate load management. It concludes that rehabilitation, centred on progressive exercise, is effective in lateral elbow tendinopathy, and highlights the need for further research to optimise protocols and prevent recurrence.

KEYWORDS: Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy, Tennis Elbow, Exercise Therapy, Eccentric Exercise, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Manual Therapy, Load Management, Rehabilitation