Can Laser Therapy Help Tennis Elbow? What the Research Says

Written by Dr Julian Simpson — Chiropractor with 15+ years of experience, Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation, and author/reviewer of 800+ health articles.

Can Low Level Laser Therapy Help Tennis Elbow? What the Research Says

If you are struggling with persistent outer elbow pain, gripping weakness, or discomfort when lifting objects, you may be dealing with Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy (LET) — commonly known as “tennis elbow.” At Healthwise Chiropractic, we regularly help patients across Sunbury and the wider Victoria manage tennis elbow using evidence-informed chiropractic care, rehabilitation, and advanced therapies including Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).

A major umbrella review published in the medical literature examined whether laser therapy is truly effective for tennis elbow — and the results were more nuanced than many people expect.

What Is Tennis Elbow (Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy)?

Despite the name, tennis elbow is not limited to tennis players. It commonly affects:

• Tradespeople

• Office workers

• Gym-goers

• Golfers

• Parents lifting children

• Anyone performing repetitive gripping or wrist movements

Research shows the condition most commonly affects adults between 30 and 60 years old, with the dominant arm usually involved. Symptoms often include:

• Pain on the outside of the elbow

• Weak grip strength

• Pain lifting objects

• Difficulty opening jars or shaking hands

• Pain during wrist extension or gripping

Importantly, modern research suggests tennis elbow is usually a degenerative tendon condition rather than a purely inflammatory injury. This means treatment should focus on tendon healing, load management, and restoring function — not just reducing inflammation.

What Is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)?

Low Level Laser Therapy (also called photobiomodulation therapy) uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate tissue healing and reduce pain.

LLLT is thought to help by:

• Improving cellular energy production

• Supporting collagen synthesis

• Reducing cellular stress

• Modulating pain signals

• Encouraging tissue repair

At Healthwise Chiropractic, laser therapy is commonly combined with:

• Chiropractic care

• Massage therapy

• Rehabilitation exercises

• Shockwave therapy

  
  

This combined approach is important because the research suggests laser therapy works best as part of a broader treatment plan.

What Did the Research Review Examine?

from major medical databases including Medline, EMBASE, and EBSCO.

The overall conclusion?

LLLT showed potential benefits, but results were inconsistent due to differences in:

• Laser dosage

• Wavelength used

• Treatment protocols

• Study quality

• Follow-up periods

Key Research Statistics From the Review

Short-Term Pain Relief

One of the strongest findings came from a subgroup using 904nm laser directly over the tendon.

Researchers found:

• Pain improved by 17.2 mm on a 100 mm pain scale compared to placebo

• Results were statistically significant (p = 0.0001)

The overall pooled data showed:

• 10.2 mm greater pain reduction compared to controls

• 95% Confidence Interval: 3.0 to 17.5

• Statistical significance: p = 0.005

This suggests properly applied laser therapy may help reduce tennis elbow pain in the short term.

Long-Term Pain Improvement

Longer-term follow-up showed:

• 11.8 mm greater pain reduction versus placebo

• Confidence Interval: 7.5 to 16.1

However, not all studies agreed, and some found little difference at 6–12 month follow-up.

Improved Overall Recovery

One review found patients receiving specific laser protocols were:

• 36% more likely to improve overall compared to placebo

• Relative Risk (RR): 1.36

• Confidence Interval: 1.16 to 1.60

In studies using 904nm tendon-targeted laser:

• Improvement rates increased further

• Relative Risk rose to 1.53

Long-term pooled improvement data showed:

• Relative Risk: 1.68

• Meaning patients were 68% more likely to report improvement than placebo groups

Grip Strength Improvements

Grip weakness is one of the most frustrating symptoms of tennis elbow.

The review found:

• Significant improvement in pain-free grip strength

• Standardised Mean Difference:

  • 0.66 overall

  • Stronger outcomes with 632nm and 904nm wavelengths

Some studies showed:

• Better lifting tolerance

• Improved hand function

• Reduced pain during gripping tasks

However, maximum grip strength findings were less consistent.

Importantly — No Serious Adverse Effects Were Reported

Across all reviews:

• No significant harms from laser therapy were identified

• No review reported worsening symptoms caused by LLLT

This supports laser therapy as a relatively low-risk treatment option when used appropriately.

So… Does Laser Therapy Work for Tennis Elbow?

The answer is:

Sometimes — especially when combined with the right treatment plan.

The review concluded that:

• LLLT should not be used as a standalone treatment

• Some laser protocols appear more effective than others

• Correct dosage and wavelength matter significantly

• Exercise and rehabilitation remain essential

Researchers also noted many studies had limitations, including:

• Small sample sizes

• Different laser settings

• Poor standardisation

• Limited long-term follow-up

This means the quality of treatment delivery matters enormously.

Our Approach at Healthwise Chiropractic

At Healthwise Chiropractic, we use a multimodal approach for tennis elbow and chronic tendon pain.

Depending on your presentation, your treatment plan may include:

• Chiropractic care

• Low Level Laser Therapy

• Shockwave Therapy

• Soft tissue techniques

• Strength rehabilitation

• Load modification advice

• Mobility work

• Ergonomic guidance

This reflects the current evidence suggesting tendon conditions respond best to combined therapies, rather than a single passive treatment alone.

When Should You Seek Help for Tennis Elbow?

You should consider professional assessment if:

• Elbow pain lasts more than 2–6 weeks

• Grip strength is declining

• Pain affects work, gym, or sport

• Symptoms keep returning

• Rest alone is not helping

Early treatment often helps prevent chronic degeneration and long recovery times.

Final Thoughts

The latest evidence suggests Low Level Laser Therapy may provide:

• Short-term pain relief

• Improved function

• Better pain-free grip strength

• Enhanced recovery when combined with exercise-based care

However, results depend heavily on:

• The laser settings used

• Treatment dosage

• Combining laser with rehabilitation

• Accurate diagnosis

About the Author

Dr Julian Simpson is an Australian chiropractor with over 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal healthcare and rehabilitation.

He is a Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation and has reviewed and written more than 800 evidence-based health articles focused on spinal health, rehabilitation, sports injuries and conservative care approaches.

His treatment focus includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Sports chiropractic

• Massage therapy

• Shockwave therapy

• Laser therapy

• Non-surgical spinal decompression

Dr Simpson provides patient care through Healthwise Chiropractic, serving communities including Sunbury, Melton, Diggers Rest and surrounding regions.

Reference

Mamais I, Papadopoulos K, Lamnisos D, Stasinopoulos D. Effectiveness of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of Lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET): an umbrella review. Laser Ther. 2018 Sep 30;27(3):174-186. doi: 10.5978/islsm.27_18-OR-16. PMID: 32158063; PMCID: PMC7034252.