Medically reviewed by Dr James Bristol, MD, PhD · Updated 2026-11-14
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia) usually resolves within a year or two, and loading exercises speed recovery. A major review in The Lancet (Coombes, 2010) found cortisone helped in the short term but led to worse results at 6 to 12 months than doing nothing. Several trials found PRP gave better 1-year results than cortisone (Peerbooms, 2010; Mishra, 2014).
Treatment
- Reduce gripping and lifting with the palm down
- Wrist extensor strengthening, isometric holds on painful days
- A counterforce brace
- Shockwave for some
- PRP for pain lasting beyond 3 to 6 months
- Avoid repeated cortisone
Surgery is a last resort for pain lasting well over a year despite full rehab.