Can Dry Needling Help With Tennis Elbow?
If you’ve been dealing with nagging pain on the outside of your elbow—whether from playing tennis, typing, lifting, or just day-to-day movement—you might be experiencing a condition called lateral epicondylalgia, more commonly known as tennis elbow.
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury that affects the tendons in the forearm. It can cause pain, tenderness, and weakness that makes even simple tasks (like holding a coffee mug or turning a doorknob) feel uncomfortable. The good news? One of the most effective tools for relieving this kind of pain might be something you haven’t tried yet: dry needling.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a skilled technique used by physical therapists to release tight muscles and deactivate trigger points—those “knots” that cause referred pain and tension. Thin, sterile needles are inserted into specific points in the muscle, stimulating healing, improving circulation, and calming inflammation.
But does it work for tennis elbow?
What the Research Says
Pain Relief
Clinical studies show that dry needling offers significant short-term pain reduction for people with tennis elbow. It’s especially effective when targeted at the irritated muscles and connective tissue around the lateral elbow.
Compared to placebo or no treatment, dry needling has been shown to reduce pain intensity and improve grip strength—often within just a few sessions. That means quicker relief and a faster return to the things you love doing.
Functional Improvements
Tennis elbow isn’t just painful—it can limit how well you use your arm. Research has found that dry needling, combined with rehab exercises, helps improve function, reduce tendon irritation, and restore mobility. Patients often experience better range of motion, strength, and decreased disability over the course of treatment.
Long-Term Outcomes
While dry needling excels at short-term pain relief, studies suggest that the best long-term outcomes come when it’s part of a full treatment plan. That includes movement retraining, hands-on therapy, and loading exercises for the forearm muscles and tendons.
In other words: dry needling gets you out of pain—rehab keeps you out of pain.
Why Choose Dry Needling for Tennis Elbow?
* Drug-free pain relief
* Minimal downtime
* Pairs well with physical therapy
* Backed by clinical evidence
* Helps jumpstart healing in stubborn, chronic cases
Get Back to Doing What You Love
Tennis elbow can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to become a long-term issue. At Fortify Physical Therapy, we combine dry needling with evidence-based physical therapy to treat the root cause—not just the symptoms. Whether you’re a weekend athlete, a busy parent, or a desk warrior, we’re here to help you heal faster and move better.
Curious if dry needling could help your elbow pain? Reach out to book a consultation—we’ll walk you through what to expect and create a custom plan just for you!
