Tennis Elbow Relief: Lateral Epicondylitis Muscle Release
This module teaches the release of muscles associated with lateral epicondylitis, commonly called tennis elbow. Spasm in this region can produce pain along the lateral elbow and dorsal forearm.
Modality 20 · Releases: Tennis elbow · Outer elbow pain · Radial nerve pain · Loss of elbow extension · Wrist strain / weak grip · Pain with gripping
Step 1
Understanding the Problem
Tennis elbow is pain at the outside of the elbow where the forearm extensors attach, and it rarely comes from tennis. Gripping, typing, tools and lifting fatigue the brachioradialis and the extensor group until they lock in spasm, pull on the lateral epicondyle, and trap the radial nerve where it passes through them. Upstream, a coracobrachialis in spasm pinching the musculocutaneous nerve keeps the whole arm chain guarding. The attachment inflames, elbow extension is lost, and the wrist ligaments take strain they were never meant to carry. Releasology releases the brachioradialis and extensors, and the arm chain above them, so the pull on the epicondyle stops and the nerve is freed.
What this release relieves
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Pain at the outside of the elbow is the extensor group pulling on its attachment. Release the pull and the inflammation has no reason to continue.
- Pain along the outside of the elbow and the back of the forearm. The brachioradialis and extensors in spasm ache along their whole length; the ache eases as they release.
- Radial nerve pain and loss of elbow extension. The radial nerve threads through the brachioradialis. In spasm the muscle traps the nerve and will not lengthen; the elbow cannot fully straighten until it is released.
- Wrist strain and weak grip. A brachioradialis in spasm pulls the radius forward and stresses the wrist ligaments. Grip returns as the forearm releases.
- Pain with gripping, lifting and turning. Every grip loads the same muscles; once released, ordinary tasks stop provoking the elbow.
Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) is commonly treated as a tendon problem at the elbow.
But the primary driver is often:
👉 the brachioradialis in spasm
This muscle:
• runs from the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus• to the distal radius
When it spasms:👉 it creates constant tension at the lateral elbow
Frequently asked questions
I have tried braces, rest and injections. Why does it keep coming back?
Because none of them release the muscle spasm pulling on the epicondyle. The attachment calms while it is rested and inflames again the moment the spasmed muscle goes back to work.
Is it tennis elbow or golfer's elbow?
Tennis elbow is the outside of the elbow (extensors, this modality). Golfer's elbow is the inside (flexors, Modality 21). Some clients have both, and both are released.
Why would you work on my upper arm for elbow pain?
The coracobrachialis in the upper arm compresses the musculocutaneous nerve, and the whole anterior arm chain guards in response. Releasing it is often what lets the forearm finally let go.
Step 2
The Clinical Problem
Lateral epicondylitis is commonly treated as a random inflammation of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus bone - the bump on the outer elbow. The cause of this has a name - it is caused by the brachioradialis muscle. It originates at the lateral epicondyle and its attac hment to the epicondyle is what becomes inflammed when it is chronically involumtary contracting.
This muscle:
• runs from the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus
• to the distal radius
When it spasms:
👉 it creates constant tension at the lateral epicondyle of the elbow, very close to where it crosses over the radial nerve.
The brachoradialis is part of a true chain of muscles. It will itself spasm when the coracobrachialis is in spasm because its nerve supply (the musculocutaneous nerve) becomes pinched when the coracobrtachialis (a small muscle in the armpit) is in spasm.
The brachioradialis, in turn, pinches the radial nerve, where it passes over slightly above the elbow, just beyond the lateral epicondyle of the humerus bone. The radial nerve is the supply for the extensor muscles of the forearm, wrist and hand. When the brachioradialis in spasm, these muscles will also spasm as a result of the radial nerve impingement.
When the brachioradialis is in spasm, it pinches the radial nerve which supplies several muscles:
-
extensor digitorum
-
extensor pollicus
-
dorsal interossei of hand
These muscles will all automatically spasm when the brachioradialis is in spasm. Why? Because, the brachioradialis pinches the radial nerve - the nerve supply for these muscles. Understanding how these myofacial chains are triggered, obviously helps you navigate which of them to do first and which order to go in.
Step 3
Why This Happens
The brachioradialis is innervated by the radial nerve and functions strongly in elbow flexion, especially when the forearm is in neutral or transitioning between pronation and supination.
When the brachioradialis becomes fatigued and enters spasm:
• it provides elbow flexion normally, but doesn't let go when in spasm, so the elbow loses the ability to extend
• it traps and compresses the radial nerve
• it pulls the radius bone too far into the anterior plane of the wrist, and pulls wrist ligaments and carpal bones along with it
• it causes chronic inflammation of the radial insertion
• it causes chronic inflammation of the lateral epicondyle (aka tennis elbow)
This produces constant stress at its attachment near the lateral elbow.
That is why the elbow hurts.
The pain is not random. It is the natural result of a muscle in sustained contraction pulling continuously on its attachment.
In clinical practice, this is why local treatment to the lateral elbow often fails. The practitioner may work directly over the painful region, but unless the brachioradialis itself is released, the pull remains and the symptoms return.
The logic is simple:
👉 spasm in the muscle
👉 constant traction at the attachment
👉 constant radial nerve entrapment
👉 chronic lateral elbow pain
When the brachioradialis releases, inflammation in the lateral elbow has no more cause. It generally disappears within 48 hours - which should be alloted for any releasology pain syndrome to clear completely. Immediately after release the nerve pain should be released and normal range of motion should be re-established, but the soreness take a couple days sometimes to go away - this should also be applied to virtually all of the releasology topics.