Why Does Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) Happen? Understanding the Real Cause
- moveliatherapy
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
Epicondylitis, more commonly known as Tennis Elbow, is one of the most common causes of elbow pain. Despite its name, you don't have to play tennis to develop it. In fact, many of the people we treat at Movelia Therapy are office workers, gym-goers, tradespeople or anyone performing repetitive arm movements.
What Is Epicondylitis?
Epicondylitis is an irritation of the tendon where the wrist extensor muscles attach to the lateral epicondyle on the outside of the elbow.
Although the pain is felt at the elbow, the real problem usually starts much further down the forearm.
The Real Cause: Muscle Imbalance
The forearm contains two main muscle groups:
Flexor muscles, which bend the wrist and fingers.
Extensor muscles, which straighten the wrist and fingers.
For the arm to function correctly, these muscle groups need to work in balance.
However, in many people, the flexor muscles become dominant, forcing the extensors to work much harder throughout the day.
Why Does This Happen?
From an evolutionary perspective, the human body evolved to move constantly.
For thousands of years, our daily activities involved walking long distances, climbing, carrying, pulling, lifting and hunting. These movements naturally required strong gripping and pulling patterns, meaning the flexor muscle chains were heavily involved.
Today, our lifestyle is very different.
Many of us spend eight or more hours sitting at a desk, using a keyboard, typing or holding a mouse.
These repetitive positions often increase the natural dominance of the flexor muscles.
Imagine simply walking with your arm relaxed by your side.
Ideally, your wrist should remain in a neutral position. But if the flexors are constantly pulling the wrist towards flexion, the extensor muscles must contract continuously just to keep the wrist straight.
They may not be working hard, but they are working all day long.
Over weeks, months and sometimes years, this continuous tension places excessive stress on the tendon attached to the lateral epicondyle, eventually leading to pain and inflammation.
Repetitive Activities Accelerate the Problem
Although muscle imbalance is often the underlying cause, repetitive activities can make the condition worse, including:
Computer work
Office jobs
Weight training
Racquet sports
Manual labour
DIY
Gardening
Repetitive gripping activities
These movements repeatedly load an already overworked tendon.
Why Rest Isn't Enough
Many people stop exercising when the pain starts.
Although resting may temporarily reduce symptoms, it rarely addresses the reason the tendon became overloaded in the first place.
Unless the muscular imbalance is corrected, the symptoms often return once normal activities resume.
How We Treat Epicondylitis at Movelia Therapy
At Movelia Therapy, we don't simply treat the painful tendon.
Our assessment focuses on identifying why the tendon has become overloaded.
Treatment may include:
Sports Massage
Deep Tissue Massage
Soft tissue release
Mobility work
Muscle balancing
Progressive strengthening exercises
Postural advice
Rehabilitation programmes tailored to your lifestyle
Our aim is not only to reduce pain, but also to restore normal movement and minimise the chances of the condition returning.
Looking for Epicondylitis Treatment in London?
If you're experiencing elbow pain, tennis elbow or forearm tightness, our experienced therapists can help.
You can book your assessment at Movelia Therapy if you're looking for treatment near:
We provide evidence-based Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage and Injury Rehabilitation, helping you recover from pain and get back to doing what you love.
Book your assessment today and let us help you identify the root cause of your elbow pain.
Movelia Therapy Team
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