THE RED DOOR CLINIC · MELLIEĦA
Tennis elbow
Not just for tennis players. The elbow pain that comes with grip, wrist and repeated work.
Tennis elbow is a tendon problem: the tendons on the outer elbow that work the wrist and grip become irritated, usually from repeated use rather than one moment. Most of the people we see with it have never played tennis, it comes from a mouse, a keyboard, a tool, a racket or a gym programme. At The Red Door Clinic in Mellieħa, an assessment confirms the diagnosis and builds a loading plan, which is the part that actually changes the tendon.
Reviewed by Andrew George, Lead Physiotherapist · 5 October 2026
What tennis elbow is and what causes it
Tennis elbow, lateral epicondylalgia, is irritation of the wrist-extensor tendons where they attach at the outer elbow. It is a load problem: the tendon has been asked to do more than it currently tolerates, whether by a mouse, a keyboard, a hammer, a racket or a new gym programme.
The classic signs are pain at the outer elbow with gripping, lifting with the palm down, twisting a door handle or a screwdriver, and lifting a cup of coffee. It usually builds over weeks rather than arriving after one moment.
What an assessment involves
The assessment confirms the diagnosis, outer-elbow tendon pain is not always tennis elbow, and neck and shoulder problems can refer to the same area, and then looks at the load that produced it: the desk set-up, the tool, the grip, the training week.
You leave with a working explanation and a plan. The core of the plan is a progressive loading programme for the tendon, tendons respond to graded load, not to rest, alongside advice on modifying the grip or task that is feeding it.
Can massage help tennis elbow?
Massage to the forearm muscles can ease the tension around the irritated tendon and is sometimes used alongside the loading programme. It does not replace the loading work, the tendon’s tolerance is what changes with graded load, and massage does not do that part.
Acupuncture is sometimes discussed for tennis elbow as an adjunct alongside the programme. The programme remains the part that matters.
When to seek urgent care instead
Go to accident and emergency, or call emergency services, if you have a suspected broken bone, a joint that looks deformed, pain after a significant fall, chest pain, trouble breathing, a head injury with confusion or vomiting, numbness in the saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Sudden severe pain with swelling, or a limb that is cold, pale or blue, also needs urgent medical care rather than a clinic appointment.
If you are unsure, do not wait on a message to decide an emergency. Use emergency services first. For everything else, contact the clinic, say what happened, and we will tell you whether we can see you and what to do until then. We do not diagnose by WhatsApp.
How the clinic can help
A consultation and assessment with Andrew George, our lead physiotherapist, is €55, and follow-up physiotherapy is €45. The assessment looks at the movement that hurts and the cause behind it, and you leave with a working explanation in plain language and a plan that fits the week you actually have.
Where massage helps alongside physiotherapy, for tension, recovery and the guarded muscles around a sore area, the clinic houses qualified massage therapists in the same building. Massage and physiotherapy are not interchangeable: if pain, injury or a change in movement is the concern, start with the assessment.
Book through the contact form, by phone on 2152 4199, or by WhatsApp on 7924 1880. There is no online booking calendar; describe your symptoms and the team will help you choose the right first appointment.
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Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does tennis elbow take to settle?
Tendon problems are slow responders, weeks to months rather than days, and the timeline depends on how much the aggravating task can be modified. A loading programme plus task changes is the fastest honest route; rest alone usually is not.
Should I wear a brace?
A counterforce brace can help take the edge off during aggravating tasks in the early weeks. It is a tool for managing load, not a cure. The assessment and loading programme are what settle the tendon.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Your next chapter starts with a conversation.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.