“Can I go to the gym with tennis elbow?”

As long as the activities you are doing are not painful, you are probably not doing further damage to the tendon. Ways to help avoid this include using a tennis elbow strap (as long as you do not have concurrent radial nerve entrapment which can worsen using a tennis elbow strap) and avoiding exercises that require extending your wrists and/or firing your wrist extensors like during reverse curls. Try doing some tennis elbow stretches before and after your work out, and ice the area for ten minutes afterwards in case you did irritate it. Lastly, make sure you have the right diagnosis by seeing a qualified professional as there are things that can mimic tennis elbow which would require different exercise modification and/or treatments.

Ron Noy, MD, FAAOS

Exercise is beneficial for tennis elbow. You need to do the activities that strengthen your elbow muscles but do not aggravate the pain. You can get instructions from a physical therapist or sports trainer.

Tennis elbow is due to micro tear of one of the wrist/elbow extensors. It rarely causes a long term problem and generally comes and goes. Yes you can go to the gym but limit exercises that aggravate the pain. Work out with a wrist brace or tennis elbow brace. Often times this is trial and error. Stretch wrist muscles prior to work out and ice massage after. It may take several months to go away. Good luck.

Yes, but using a wrist brace and avoiding wrist extension and flexion is recommended.

Dr. D

Sure, you can go to the gym. Just stay away from lifting weights, or to put it another way, stay away from anything that makes your elbow hurt more at the time of exercise or hurt more the following day.

Yes. However, wear a tennis elbow strap, do not do any lifts that cause pain, and when you are gripping the bar, your palms must face upwards (not down).

Hope it helps!!

Dr Bose