- Blog
Tennis Elbow: Sometimes Doing Nothing is Better
Posted on 02-13-2026 in Elbow by Dr. Steven Kronlage
Google tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis, and you will find a thousand different treatment options for this condition. This proliferation of remedies tells us two things: lateral epicondylitis is a very common condition, and perhaps we don’t know how best to treat it!
Believe it or not--doing nothing truly seems to work better than doing anything!
There is no treatment for lateral epicondylitis that has been proven to work better than doing nothing. We, as patients, want to be out of pain and are willing to do things to get there. For this reason, there are thousands of remedies and treatments for tennis elbow. A recent study looked at 2300 patients treated non-operatively with a myriad of treatments, bracing, exercise, needling, tens units, and found no technique worked better than placebo. (Strauch, et. al COOR)
The only thing that has been proven NOT to work is a steroid injection. Steroids can increase the likelihood of failed non-operative treatment and the need for surgery.
Our main goal with patients is to get them pain-free function. Therefore, we believe that early-stage exercises are the way to go for lateral epicondylitis. In theory, by exercising the specific muscles affected, the parts of the muscle still attached to the elbow will strengthen. This will allow the “torn” and “degenerative” areas to heal.
We have great success early on treating lateral epicondylitis with an exercise program. Often, we will use a few supervised therapy visits to ensure that the patient is doing the exercises appropriately. Furthermore, we don’t believe that patients should stop activities because of lateral epicondylitis in order to allow it to heal. Exercising it before the activity to warm up the muscle will allow the patient to compete in whatever exercise or sport they want. It is, after all, a pain phenomenon.
In extreme cases, we do have surgical treatment, but it is typically reserved for longstanding symptoms lasting more than six to nine months. The good news is that surgery is almost always effective. During this procedure, the degenerative muscle will be removed, and the remaining tendon is sewn down to the bone.
Visit Tennis Elbow for additional information, including symptoms and diagnosis details.
Check out some of our related posts:
A Season of Impact and Year-End Giving: Hands of Hope
North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists is honored to share the Hands of Hope Medical Mission feature in the newly released December 2025/January 2026 issue of Emerald Coast Magazine. As part of the Medical Profiles section of this edition, the article highlights how two of our own, Dr. Steven Kronlage and Dr. Chris O'Grady, volunteer their time and talents to bring compassionate orthopaedic care to communities with limited access to medical services.
Healthy Aging: Resources for Lifelong Bone & Joint Health
September is Healthy Aging Month, an observance dedicated to promoting the positive aspects of growing older and encouraging proactive steps toward maintaining long-term health. In its 33rd year, Healthy Aging Month inspires adults of all ages to focus on lifestyle habits that support vitality, independence and overall well-being.
Ischiofemoral Impingement of the Hip
Ischiofemoral Impingement (IFI) is a lesser-known but often painful condition affecting the hip joint. This condition arises when the ischium (a bone in the pelvis) and the femur (the thigh bone) come into abnormal contact, which compresses soft tissues surrounding the hip. While the discomfort typically manifests in the buttocks or groin, particularly when moving the hip or walking, it can also present as low back pain, making it challenging to diagnose early. Additional symptoms and causes include discomfort during prolonged sitting, reduced range of motion, stiffness and/or tightness in the hip area.