Tennis Elbow in Tradies: Causes, Symptoms & What Actually Helps

If you’re a tradie or manual worker dealing with pain on the outside of your elbow, especially when gripping tools or lifting, you may be dealing with tennis elbow.

Despite the name, tennis elbow is far more common in trades and physical jobs than in sport. Repetitive gripping, lifting, twisting and tool use place high load on the tendons around the elbow — and over time, they can struggle to cope.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow (also known as lateral epicondylalgia) is an overuse injury of the tendon on the outside of the elbow.

This tendon helps control:

• Wrist and finger extension

• Grip strength

• Twisting movements of the forearm

When it’s repeatedly overloaded — common in carpenters, electricians, plumbers, landscapers and labourers — the tendon can become painful, weaker and slower to recover.

Common tennis elbow symptoms

You may notice:

• Pain or tenderness on the outside of the elbow

• Pain with gripping, lifting or twisting

• Reduced grip strength

• Pain that worsens during or after work

• Difficulty with everyday tasks like opening jars or carrying bags

For many tradies, it starts as a mild ache and gradually worsens until it affects work performance or confidence.

How long does tennis elbow take to heal?

Tennis elbow can be slow to improve if it’s ignored or pushed through.

Recovery time depends on:

• How long symptoms have been present

• How physically demanding your job is

• How well the tendon is managed and strengthened

With the right rehab approach, most people notice improvement within weeks, with steady progress over a few months — often without needing to stop work completely.

How tennis elbow is treated (and why rest alone isn’t enough)

1. Reduce pain without stopping work

Early treatment focuses on settling pain while keeping the arm moving.

This may include:

• Adjusting lifting and gripping techniques

• Load management strategies to reduce flare-ups

• Simple isometric exercises to reduce pain

Hands-on treatment such as soft tissue work or dry needling can help improve movement and reduce pain early on.Elbow straps can also reduce strain during gripping and lifting tasks.

2. Strengthen the tendon properly

Once pain settles, the tendon needs to be re-strengthened to handle load again.

This involves:

• Slow, controlled strengthening exercises

• Gradual progression to build tendon capacity

• Strengthening the forearm, shoulder and upper back

Skipping this stage is one of the main reasons tennis elbow becomes long-term or keeps returning.

3. Prepare the elbow for real work demands

The final stage focuses on job-specific loading so the elbow can tolerate real-world tasks.

This may include:

• Faster gripping and lifting drills

• Twisting and tool-based movements

• Carrying and work-simulated exercises

The goal is confidence — knowing your elbow can handle a full workday without flare-ups.

When should you see a physio for tennis elbow?

It’s worth getting assessed if:

• Pain has lasted more than a few weeks

• Symptoms are worsening with work

• Grip strength feels weaker

• You’re constantly modifying tasks to cope

Early treatment can prevent long-term tendon changes and reduce downtime.

A physiotherapist can:

• Identify the exact source of your elbow pain

• Build a rehab plan around your job demands

• Help you stay working while recovering

• Reduce the risk of ongoing flare-ups

Take the next step

Elbow pain might feel like part of the job — but it doesn’t have to be something you live with.

If you’re a tradie or manual worker dealing with ongoing elbow pain, Billy regularly works with people in physically demanding jobs and understands the balance between rehab and getting back to work safely.

If you’re unsure whether it’s tennis elbow or something else, a proper assessment can give you clarity and a clear plan forward.

👉 If elbow pain is holding you back at work, booking in early can make a big difference. Click this link to book online and get started with your recovery.