Tennis elbow is one of the most common tendon overuse injuries, and most people who get it have never picked up a racket. When rest, bracing, and anti-inflammatories haven't cleared it up, Shockwave Therapy addresses the damaged tendon tissue directly. We treat lateral epicondylitis in Edmond and throughout the Oklahoma City metro.
Tennis elbow, clinically called lateral epicondylitis, is pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow where the forearm extensor tendons attach to the lateral epicondyle, the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow. Repetitive gripping, lifting, or forearm rotation gradually overloads that tendon attachment until small tears develop and the tissue begins to degenerate rather than repair.
Despite the name, the condition most often affects people who perform repetitive hand and wrist motions at work or in daily life: painters, mechanics, carpenters, cooks, and desk workers who use a mouse for long hours. The pain is typically on the outer elbow and can radiate into the forearm. Grip strength often drops, and simple tasks like lifting a coffee mug or turning a door handle become aggravating.
The reason it persists is the same reason most tendinopathies do. Once the degeneration sets in, the tendon loses its ability to repair itself efficiently. Rest reduces the load but doesn't reverse the tissue damage. Shockwave Therapy is designed to restart that stalled repair process by delivering acoustic pressure waves directly into the tendon attachment, prompting the biological response the tissue has stopped generating on its own. Class IV Laser Therapy addresses the inflammatory component alongside it. Individual results vary.
Pain on the inner side of the elbow is a separate condition called golfer's elbow. If you're unsure which side is involved, a clinical evaluation will clarify it. We treat golfer's elbow as well.
Lateral epicondylitis is one of the well-studied applications for radial shockwave therapy. Acoustic pressure waves are applied to the tendon attachment at the outer elbow, stimulating blood flow and growth factor activity in tissue that has stopped repairing on its own. Most courses run 3 to 6 sessions spaced approximately one week apart. Individual results vary.
Learn MoreClass IV laser therapy targets the inflammation at and around the lateral epicondyle. It works at a cellular level to support tissue healing and reduce pain signals in the affected area, complementing the mechanical effect of shockwave therapy on the tendon itself.
Learn MoreA free consultation lets our providers evaluate the tendon attachment specifically and tell you whether shockwave therapy is the right fit for your presentation and how long you've been dealing with it.
Individual results vary. Treatment is recommended only after clinical evaluation. This page is informational and does not constitute medical advice.