Struggling with elbow pain in Warrington?
If you're finding it difficult to:
- Grip and lift without pain in the elbow or forearm
- Use a keyboard or mouse comfortably through the working day
- Play sport, garden or carry out daily tasks without elbow pain
You’re not alone — and you don’t have to just put up with it. Elbow Pain is one of the most common conditions we treat at Stockton Heath Physiotherapy & Wellness. In most cases, it’s very treatable — without injections or surgery.
The good news
Does this sound like you?
Pain on the outer side of the elbow (tennis elbow) or inner side (golfer’s elbow)
Weak, painful grip when holding, carrying or shaking hands
Pain when lifting even light objects like a kettle or bag
Tenderness directly on the bony prominence of the elbow
Aching that builds through the day with repetitive use
Pain that started after a period of increased activity or a change in work tasks
Why does elbow pain happen?
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are both tendon conditions driven by overload. The tendons at the elbow attachment become irritated when the load placed on them exceeds their capacity to adapt. This is why they’re so common in people who use their hands repetitively for work — typing, manual labour, carrying — not just in racket sports.
The reason these conditions become chronic and stubborn is usually one of two things: either the initial treatment was rest only (which doesn’t build tendon capacity) or the load causing the problem was never properly identified and managed. Simply resting the tendon reduces pain temporarily but doesn’t address the underlying weakness or loading issue — so the pain returns when activity resumes.
The evidence strongly supports a graduated loading programme as the foundation of treatment — gradually building the tendon’s capacity to handle load. For cases that haven’t responded to this approach, shockwave therapy has a strong evidence base and often produces significant improvement within a few sessions.
Common contributing factors
- Overuse of forearm muscles from repetitive gripping, lifting or keyboard work
- A sudden increase in activity or a change in work tasks
- Poor technique in racket sports or manual activities
- Weak shoulder or rotator cuff muscles placing excess demand on the elbow
- Previous injury to the elbow that wasn’t fully rehabilitated
Why you shouldn’t ignore your elbow pain
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow that’s ignored tends to become chronic — and chronic tendon pain is significantly harder to treat
- Persistent grip weakness limits work, sport and daily activities in ways that compound quickly
- Compensating for elbow pain causes shoulder and wrist problems over time
- The longer tendon degeneration is present, the longer recovery takes
Early treatment = faster recovery. Most patients start to notice improvement within the first few sessions.
How we treat Elbow Pain
Shockwave therapy
Highly effective for chronic tennis and golfer’s elbow with strong clinical evidence
EMTT
For deep tendon repair in stubborn or long-standing elbow conditions
Physiotherapy & manual therapy
Hands-on treatment and graduated loading programme
Load management advice
Identifying and modifying the activities driving the condition
Acupuncture
For pain management alongside rehabilitation
Why patients choose Stockton Heath Physiotherapy & Wellness
Shockwave therapy on-site — one of the most effective treatments for chronic tennis and golfer’s elbow, with strong clinical evidence and outcomes that rest and standard physio often can’t match
We treat the cause, not just the tendon — most elbow pain recurs because the loading issue driving it was never identified. We find it and fix it.
20+ years treating patients in Warrington — established, trusted, local
11 specialist clinicians across physiotherapy, sports therapy, women's health and more
CSP & HCPC registered chartered physiotherapists — fully qualified and regulated
Clear recovery plan from your first appointment — you leave knowing what's wrong and what happens next
Start fixing your elbow pain today
