Preventing tennis elbow can be difficult.
Not putting a strain on the muscles in your forearm will help you to avoid the condition or stop your symptoms from getting worse.
Self-care advice
The measures you can take that may stop tennis elbow from developing or coming back include to:
- stop the activity that is causing pain, or find another way of doing it that does not cause pain or stress
- avoid using your wrist and elbow more than the rest of your arm. It may also help to spread the load to the larger muscles of your shoulder
- get coaching advice to help you change or improve your technique if you play a sport that involves repetitive movements, such as tennis or squash
- warm up properly and gently stretch your arm muscles before playing a sport that involves repetitive arm movements
- use lightweight tools or racquets and make their grip size bigger, to avoid putting extra strain on your tendons
- wear a tennis elbow splint when you're using your arm (not while resting or sleeping) to stop further damage to your tendons. Ask a GP or physiotherapist for advice about the best type of brace or splint to use
- increase the strength of your forearm muscles (a physiotherapist can advise you about exercises to build up your forearm muscles)
Page last reviewed: 10 November 2020
Next review due: 10 November 2023