Conditions
Tennis and padel elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is pain on the outside of the elbow caused by overload of the tendons that extend the wrist and fingers, which attach to the lateral epicondyle. It is very common in padel and tennis players, but most cases occur in people who do not play racket sports at all: manual work, computer use, DIY or carrying bags. It usually improves with well-directed treatment, although once it becomes chronic it can last for months. Dr Julio De la Morena examines it with ultrasound during the same consultation at Hospital Memorial Publio Cordón (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid).
Common symptoms
- Pain on the outside of the elbow that may spread down the forearm.
- Pain when lifting a cup, a bottle or a bag with the arm straight.
- Pain when shaking hands, turning a door handle or wringing a cloth.
- In padel, pain with backhands, the bandeja or volleys.
- Loss of grip strength.
Why it is so common in padel
Padel repeats shots with a firm wrist and a tense forearm, often with heavy or stiff rackets, an unsuitable grip and many hours of play in a row. Many players also start as adults, without refined technique or prior conditioning. Checking the racket, the grip and the technique is part of the treatment.
How it is diagnosed
The examination locates the painful spot and the movements that reproduce the pain. Ultrasound shows thickening of the tendon, partial tears, calcifications or increased blood flow, and rules out other causes of elbow pain, such as irritation of the radial nerve or a joint problem.
Non-surgical treatment
- Load adjustment. Reducing the movements that cause pain, without complete rest.
- Progressive exercise. Isometric exercises first, then strengthening of the wrist extensors, the wrist and the shoulder. This is the treatment with the strongest evidence.
- Review of equipment and technique in padel and tennis players.
- Forearm strap as a help during painful phases.
- Autologous growth factors guided by ultrasound in chronic cases that have not responded to exercise.
- Avoiding repeated corticosteroid injections into the tendon: they relieve pain in the short term but increase relapses.
Frequently asked questions
How long does tennis elbow take to heal?
It depends on how long it has been going on. Many cases improve within weeks with good treatment; chronic cases may need several months. The earlier it is addressed, the easier it is.
Can I keep playing padel with tennis elbow?
Often yes, with adjusted load: shorter sessions, avoiding the shots that hurt most and checking the racket. The aim is for pain during and after the match to stay tolerable while you follow the exercise programme.
Do injections work for tennis elbow?
Corticosteroids relieve pain in the short term but are not recommended repeatedly because they increase relapses. In selected chronic cases, ultrasound-guided autologous growth factors are considered.
Which doctor treats tennis and padel elbow in Madrid?
Dr Julio De la Morena, specialist in Sports and Exercise Medicine, at the Regenerative Therapies and Sports Medicine Unit of Hospital Memorial Publio Cordón (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid). Appointments on +34 913 548 990.
Would you like your case assessed?
Examination and ultrasound in the same appointment: you leave with a diagnosis and a plan. First appointment with no commitment to treatment: if nothing is indicated, we tell you.
Hospital Memorial Publio Cordón · Pozuelo de Alarcón · +34 913 548 990 · Mon–Fri, 3 pm to 9 pm
Written and reviewed by Dr Julio De la Morena Garzón, specialist in Sport and Exercise Medicine (Madrid Medical Council no. 281903698). Last reviewed: October 2026. General information that does not replace a medical consultation.