Tennis Elbow — Healing the Pain from Both Sides of Medicine

By Dr. Rob Benhuri, D. Ac

Acupuncture can help relieve elbow pain and get you back on the court

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a frustrating injury that can linger long after the game’s over. Despite the name, it’s not limited to tennis players—any repetitive strain of the forearm can inflame the tendons on the outside of the elbow.

At Healing Kind, we look at conditions like this through two lenses: modern medicine’s understanding of tissue inflammation, and Chinese medicine’s view of how energy and blood move—or sometimes get stuck—through the body.

When the Elbow Says “Enough”

From a Western perspective, tennis elbow develops when overuse causes tiny tears in the tendons that anchor the forearm muscles. It’s most common in the dominant arm and leads to pain, stiffness, or tenderness that can radiate down the forearm.

In Chinese medicine, the story adds a different layer. The pain arises from qi and blood stagnation—when the flow of circulation is disrupted by overuse or tension, the energy that should move freely begins to pool. Where things get stuck, pain follows. Over time, this stagnation leads to tightness, heat, and irritation in the surrounding tissues.

Common Treatments

Conventional care focuses on rest, stretching, and anti-inflammatories, sometimes escalating to steroid injections or, rarely, surgery. These can calm symptoms but don’t always address the underlying imbalance that made the area vulnerable in the first place.

That’s where acupuncture and Chinese bodywork can complement your care. Both help restore smooth circulation of blood and qi through the arm, easing tension while encouraging the body’s natural repair mechanisms.

• Acupuncture improves local circulation, reduces inflammation, and releases endorphins—your body’s natural pain relievers.

• Tui na (Chinese medical massage) and acupressure gently move stagnation, open the channels, and relieve tightness through direct touch.

These approaches are drug-free, safe alongside conventional care, and often help not only the elbow but the broader patterns of imbalance that led there.

Self-Care and Recovery

Rest is important, but total stillness can backfire. Gentle range-of-motion work, guided by your practitioner or physical therapist, helps keep circulation moving.

Alternate heat and ice to see which soothes best—always wrapped in a towel. Support your elbow with mindful movement: lift with your palms up, avoid gripping too tightly, and check your technique if you’re starting a new sport or activity.

A Healing Perspective

Tennis elbow is rarely just about the elbow. It’s about how strain and stagnation build over time—and how the body communicates its need for balance. Whether you come in for acupuncture, massage, or guidance on home care, our goal is to help your system flow freely again so pain can resolve naturally.