Tennis elbow is one of the most common repetitive strain injuries affecting both athletes and office workers. Despite the name, many people who develop tennis elbow have never picked up a tennis racquet.

The condition commonly affects:

• Tennis and pickleball players
• Golfers
• Tradespeople
• Office workers using keyboards and mice for long hours
• Gym-goers performing repetitive gripping exercises
• Warehouse and manual labour workers

For many sufferers, the pain begins gradually before turning into a persistent daily frustration that affects work, sport, lifting, and even simple household activities.

As more people search for drug-free and non-invasive solutions, cold laser therapy — also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation — is becoming increasingly recognised as a supportive therapy for tendon-related pain and inflammation.

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis or lateral elbow tendinopathy, occurs when the tendons attaching to the outside of the elbow become overloaded and irritated.

The injury is usually caused by repetitive wrist extension and gripping movements that place excessive stress on the forearm tendons over time.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain on the outside of the elbow
• Weak grip strength
• Pain lifting objects
• Discomfort when shaking hands
• Forearm tightness and fatigue
• Pain when typing or using a mouse

Many people are surprised by how long tendon injuries can linger. Tendons generally receive less blood flow than muscles, which can slow the healing process if repetitive strain continues.

Why Office Workers Develop Tennis Elbow

Although athletes are commonly associated with tennis elbow, office workers are increasingly affected due to repetitive computer use and poor ergonomic positioning.

Long hours spent:

• Clicking a mouse
• Typing continuously
• Gripping tools
• Working with bent wrists
• Using laptops without ergonomic support

can gradually overload the tendons around the elbow.

People often dismiss the early signs as “just tightness” until the pain starts interfering with everyday activities.

This is one reason many office workers begin searching for conservative treatments before symptoms become chronic.

What Is Cold Laser Therapy?

Cold laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular repair and support the body’s healing response.

Unlike surgical lasers, low-level laser therapy does not cut or burn tissue. Instead, photobiomodulation aims to help:

• Support cellular energy production (ATP)
• Improve circulation
• Assist tissue repair
• Reduce inflammatory activity
• Ease pain sensitivity

The process is completely non-invasive and generally painless, making it attractive for people looking to avoid injections or excessive medication use.

Research on Cold Laser Therapy for Tennis Elbow

Clinical interest in laser therapy for tendon injuries has grown substantially over the past two decades.

A review published in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery examined the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for tendinopathies and soft tissue injuries, including tennis elbow. The research highlighted evidence supporting laser therapy’s ability to reduce pain and improve recovery outcomes when appropriate wavelengths and treatment protocols were used. Readers can review the publication here: Low-Level Laser Therapy for Tendinopathy Research Review

This is particularly relevant for people experiencing persistent tendon irritation who want alternatives to:

• Cortisone injections
• Long-term anti-inflammatory medication
• Complete inactivity
• Repeated flare-ups after returning to activity

Why Tendon Injuries Can Be Difficult to Resolve

One of the most frustrating aspects of tennis elbow is that the pain often settles temporarily before returning once normal activity resumes.

Many sufferers feel discouraged because they have already tried:

• Bracing
• Rest
• Stretching
• Massage
• Ice therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medication

That frustration is understandable.

Tendon injuries often require both load management and strategies that support tissue recovery over time. Many people find the best outcomes come from combining rehabilitation exercises with supportive therapies rather than relying on a single solution.

How Cold Laser Therapy May Help

Cold laser therapy is commonly used as part of broader rehabilitation programs because it may help:

• Reduce inflammation around irritated tendons
• Improve local circulation
• Support collagen repair processes
• Decrease pain sensitivity
• Promote recovery between activities

Athletes often use laser therapy to support return-to-play programs, while office workers may use it to help manage repetitive strain from daily computer use.

The goal is not simply masking symptoms, but helping the irritated tendon better tolerate load over time.

Using At-Home Laser Therapy Devices

Portable laser therapy devices have made photobiomodulation more accessible for people managing recurring elbow pain at home.

Pulse Laser Relief Pulsed Low-Level Laser Therapy Device is designed for targeted application on areas commonly affected by repetitive strain injuries, including:

• Elbows
• Wrists
• Forearms
• Shoulders
• Tendons and soft tissue

For both athletes and office workers, home-use therapy may help support consistency between physiotherapy sessions and rehabilitation exercises.

Recovery Still Requires Addressing the Cause

While cold laser therapy may help support recovery, most successful tennis elbow rehabilitation programs also focus on reducing the repetitive strain that caused the issue in the first place.

This often includes:

• Improving workstation ergonomics
• Strengthening forearm muscles
• Adjusting sports technique
• Reducing excessive gripping load
• Taking regular movement breaks
• Gradually rebuilding tendon capacity

Many people worsen the condition by trying to “push through” the pain too early.

Combining smart load management with supportive recovery therapies may help reduce flare-ups and improve long-term outcomes.

References:
Chang W-D, Wu J-H, Yang W-J, Jiang J-A. Therapeutic Effects of Low-Level Laser on Lateral Epicondylitis from Differential Interventions of Chinese-Western Medicine: Systematic Review. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2010;28(3):327-336. doi:10.1089/pho.2009.2558