From Desk Work to Tennis to Cycling – How Dry Needling Can Ease Elbow Pain
If you're dealing with pain on the outside of your elbow or forearm, you might have tennis elbow—a frustrating condition that can make simple tasks like lifting a coffee cup, typing, or gripping a steering wheel uncomfortable. The good news? Dry needling can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and support healing so you can get back to doing what you love.
What Is Tennis Elbow? (And No, You Don’t Need to Play Tennis to Get It!)
Despite its name, tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) isn’t just from tennis. It’s actually a common overuse injury caused by repetitive strain on the forearm muscles and tendons.
People who spend long hours gripping, lifting, or using their hands in a repetitive way are at risk. That includes:
🎾 Tennis players and other racket sports
🚴 Cyclists gripping handlebars for long periods
💻 Office workers and desk-based professionals typing or using a mouse all day
🔧 Electricians, plumbers, and tradies who use tools repeatedly
🖌 Painters, hairdressers, and other hands-on professionals
Over time, repetitive strain causes micro-tears in the tendons, leading to pain, weakness, and sometimes swelling. If left untreated, it can become a chronic issue that affects your ability to work, exercise, or even do everyday tasks.
How Can Dry Needling Help?
As a chiropractor in Mona Vale, I use dry needling to target the tight, irritated muscles contributing to your pain. This technique involves inserting fine needles into specific trigger points to:
✔ Release muscle tension in the forearm and surrounding areas
✔ Improve blood flow to promote faster healing
✔ Reduce pain and inflammation by resetting overactive nerve signals
✔ Restore movement so you can use your arm without discomfort
But treating just the elbow isn’t enough—and that’s where a whole-body approach makes a difference.
Looking Beyond the Elbow: A Full-Body Approach
Tennis elbow doesn’t happen in isolation. Weakness or tightness in surrounding joints and muscles—like the wrist, shoulder, and neck—can make the problem worse and prevent full recovery.
As part of my treatment, I always assess and treat these areas to ensure they aren’t placing extra stress on the elbow. By addressing the root cause (not just the symptoms), we can reduce the chance of the pain becoming a long-term issue.
What Else Can You Do to Speed Up Recovery?
While dry needling is a powerful tool, a well-rounded recovery plan is key. Here are some extra steps you can take to ease pain and heal properly:
✅ Stretch and strengthen – Targeted exercises to improve flexibility and rebuild strength in the forearm muscles.
✅ Modify activities – Adjust how you use your hands and wrists to avoid aggravating the injury.
✅ Use heat and ice – Ice to reduce pain and inflammation, heat to improve circulation and relax muscles.
✅ Support the elbow – Bracing or taping can help offload strain on the tendons while they heal.
Don’t Let Tennis Elbow Become a Long-Term Problem
Ignoring tennis elbow can lead to chronic pain, weakness, and ongoing frustration. Addressing it early with dry needling and a full-body approach can make all the difference.
If you’re experiencing elbow pain and want to get back to pain-free movement, book an appointment with me today—let’s get your elbow (and everything connected to it) feeling better