Tennis Injury Treatment in Central London — Serve and Swing Without Pain
Tennis elbow, shoulder pain, wrist strain, and knee or back trouble are overload problems as much as technique problems — the tendon or joint asked for more than it could give. Rest alone tends to leave it weaker, so it flares the moment you pick up a racket again. We rebuild the capacity behind the pain across six central London clinics.
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What you're seeing
The concern
Why it happens
What drives it
- Repetitive gripping and wrist extension loading the common extensor tendon (tennis elbow)
- High-volume serving and overhead load through the rotator cuff
- A sudden increase in playing frequency, intensity, or match duration
- Equipment factors — grip size, string tension, or a new racket
- Strength and control deficits up the kinetic chain (trunk, hip, shoulder blade)
- Lower-limb overload from rapid movement and change of direction around the court
Treatment approach
How Soho Physiotherapy treats it
Physiotherapy
Price on enquiryAssessment identifies whether the problem is tennis elbow, rotator-cuff-related shoulder pain, or a lower-limb overload, then delivers progressive loading and manual therapy — the first-line, best-evidenced treatment across all of these.
See treatment detail →Shockwave Therapy
Price on enquiryFor lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow) that has not settled with first-line loading, focused shockwave may be considered as an adjunct alongside continued rehabilitation, in line with NICE interventional procedures guidance.
See treatment detail →Dry Needling & Acupuncture
Price on enquiryTrigger-point needling can ease the forearm, shoulder, and trunk muscular tension that often accompanies tennis injuries — one adjunct within the plan, used to open a window for active rehab.
See treatment detail →Sports Massage
Price on enquiryAdjunctive soft-tissue work for muscular tension and recovery during a heavy playing block — useful alongside the loading programme rather than as a stand-alone treatment.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Common
questions
What is the best treatment for tennis elbow?
Progressive loading of the wrist-extensor tendon is first-line, supported by the BJSM tendinopathy consensus — a graded strengthening programme rebuilds the tendon’s capacity. Rest alone tends to leave it weaker. For stubborn cases that have not responded to loading, focused shockwave may be added as an adjunct. We also review grip, technique, and playing load to address the cause.
How long does tennis elbow take to settle?
Tennis elbow is often slow — many cases take several months to settle, and longer if it has been present a while or the aggravating load continues. A structured loading programme typically shows meaningful change over 8–12 weeks. We set realistic expectations, progress you against objective markers, and adjust your playing load so the tendon can recover.
Should I stop playing tennis while my injury settles?
Usually you can keep playing in a modified way rather than stopping completely, depending on the injury and how it responds. Relative rest — reducing the most aggravating load while progressively rebuilding tolerance — beats complete rest, which leaves the tissue weaker. Your physiotherapist guides how much play and load is right for your stage of recovery.
When should a tennis injury be assessed urgently?
Seek urgent care after acute trauma with a suspected fracture or dislocation, a joint that cannot bear weight, or sudden severe pain with rapid swelling. A sharp “pop” at the shoulder, knee, or calf with sudden loss of function needs prompt assessment for a tear. For these, physiotherapy is not the first step — see your GP or attend A&E.
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Soho Physiotherapy • 111 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks