Tennis elbow is badly named. Plenty of people who have it have never held a racket. They have a mouse, a phone, a toddler who wants to be carried everywhere, a new climbing gym membership, or a pickleball habit that went from Sunday hobby to five nights a week sometime last spring.
Here's what's happening at the elbow, and where massage for tennis elbow fits in.
Key takeaways
Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are overuse problems in the forearm tendons, and you don't need to play tennis to get them.
Massage can ease tight forearm, arm, and shoulder muscles, which many people find makes gripping less sore.
Lasting improvement usually comes from easing off and strengthening, often with a PT.
A pop, sudden weakness, or numbness in your hand means see a doctor first.
Tennis elbow vs golfer's elbow
Both are overuse problems with the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the elbow.
Tennis elbow shows up on the outside of the elbow. It often hurts when you grip, lift a coffee mug, turn a doorknob, or shake hands.
Golfer's elbow is on the inside of the elbow and tends to flare with gripping, carrying, and wrist bending.
Either way, the forearm muscles have been asked to do more than they were ready for, usually the same motion over and over.
Why New Yorkers get it
The racket sports boom is part of it. Courts all over the city are booked solid, and lots of people went from zero to several matches a week without much ramp-up. But the everyday culprits are just as common: long days on a laptop, grocery bags carried six blocks, a baby carrier, a heavy bike lock, a phone gripped for hours.
What massage can help with
The forearm muscles on the sore side are usually tight and tender, and the upper arm, shoulder, and neck often join in. A licensed massage therapist can work through the forearm and surrounding areas, which many people find eases the ache and makes gripping feel less sore.
Studies suggest friction and soft tissue work can help ease tennis elbow pain in the short term. The most reliable long-term approach usually involves load changes and strengthening exercises guided by a physical therapist. Massage works best as support alongside that.
What massage can't do
Massage won't repair a tendon. If you keep playing four times a week through the pain, no amount of bodywork will outrun it. The honest truth with tendons is that they respond to how you load them over weeks and months.
What a session looks like
Expect questions about when it started, what activity flares it, and what you've tried. The work often covers the forearm, upper arm, shoulder, and upper back. Pressure directly over the sore tendon stays in a range that feels productive, not sharp. Tell your massage therapist if anything sets off tingling or numbness into your hand.
See a doctor if
You felt a pop, or the pain started suddenly with an injury
Your elbow is swollen, warm, or very bruised
You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand
It hasn't improved after several weeks of easing off
How long does tennis elbow last?
Longer than most people expect, but the outlook is good. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it usually takes around six months to recover, and some people need up to 18 months. Most people get better with a few months of nonsurgical treatment and rest.
Massage can make the months of easing off and rebuilding a lot more comfortable.
Keeping it from coming back
Ramp up play gradually after time off or when adding sessions.
Have someone check your grip size and paddle or racket.
Take short breaks from mousing and typing, and change grips through the day.
Do the forearm strengthening your PT recommends. It's the slow, unglamorous part that tends to work.
Where to book
If you play in Brooklyn, our Williamsburg and Greenpoint studios are close to the courts at McCarren Park. Long Island City, Queens is a short trip from the courts and gyms nearby. In Manhattan, there's Union Square and Columbus Circle. Mention which elbow, and what you do with it, when you book.
FAQ
Does massage help tennis elbow?
It can ease forearm tension and soreness, and many people find it helpful. It works best alongside rest, load changes, and strengthening.
Can I keep playing?
That's a question for your doctor or PT. Often the answer is "less, for now" rather than "never."
Should I massage my own forearm?
Gentle self-massage is usually fine. Avoid digging hard into the sore spot at the elbow.
Is pickleball elbow the same as tennis elbow?
Usually, yes. "Pickleball elbow" is the same overuse problem on the outside of the elbow, just from a different paddle.
Can you get tennis elbow from typing?
Yes. Long days of mousing and typing can overload the same forearm tendons.
Should I wear a brace for tennis elbow?
Many people use a forearm strap. Your doctor or PT can tell you whether it makes sense for you.
How often should I get a massage for tennis elbow?
Some people come weekly while it's flaring, then less often. It works best alongside the strengthening your PT gives you.
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Rachel Beider is the Founder and CEO of PRESS Modern Massage, an independently owned group of massage studios in New York City specializing in personalized, anatomy-informed therapeutic bodywork. A New York State Licensed Massage Therapist and the author of Press Here! Massage for Beginners, Beider founded the company in 2008 with a focus on combining clinical expertise with a modern, client-centered experience. Her work and insights have been featured by publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Refinery29.