Cream for Tennis Elbow: What Actually Helps, From a Tennis Pro

I've taught tennis for a long time, and the sore elbow is the injury I hear about most. It usually shows up the same way: an ache on the outside of the elbow that gets worse when you grip the racquet, turn a doorknob, or pick up a coffee cup.

Why your elbow hurts

That ache comes from the forearm muscles and tendons that attach at the outside of the elbow. Every backhand, every grip, every bit of string vibration loads them. Do that a few hundred times a week and they get irritated.

The most common causes I see on court:

• Late contact on the backhand. Meeting the ball behind you puts the load on your forearm instead of your body.
• Gripping too tight. A death grip between shots keeps those muscles working the whole point.
• Stiff strings or the wrong tension. A full poly bed strung tight sends more shock to the arm. Softer strings (a multifilament or natural gut) at a lower tension help a lot.
• Too much, too soon. Jumping from one match a week to four is a classic trigger.

What to do about it

1. Back off. Play less, or switch to doubles for a couple of weeks.
2. Fix the cause. Have a pro check your backhand contact point and your grip pressure.
3. Change your strings. Ask your stringer about a softer setup.
4. Ice after you play for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Use a topical pain relief cream for the ache. More on that below.

If the pain is sharp, lasts more than a couple of weeks, or keeps you up at night, see a doctor or physical therapist. A cream helps you feel better, but it doesn't replace getting it looked at.

Where a cream fits in

A topical pain relief cream is for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and joints. For a sore elbow, that means you can rub it in before you play to take the edge off, and again afterward.

We make Active 10, which uses menthol and capsaicin. It goes on cool, warms up, and rubs in without a greasy feel, so you can put it on and grab your racquet. A lot of players keep the 3 oz roll-on in their bag because there's nothing to wash off your hands, and the 4 oz tube at home.

If you prefer a formula with full spectrum hemp oil, Active 10 PLUS is our most popular cream.

The short version

Play a little less, fix the stroke, soften the strings, ice after, and use a cream for the ache. Most players who do all five feel a lot better within a few weeks.

Read the product label for Drug Facts, directions and warnings before use. This article is general information, not medical advice.