Conditions We Treat

Massage for Elbow Pain, Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow in NYC

Pain on the inside or outside of the elbow can make everyday tasks—lifting, gripping, typing, or even pouring a cup of coffee—surprisingly difficult. Our licensed medical massage therapists help reduce strain, restore forearm mechanics, and rebalance the whole-body patterns that keep elbow pain coming back.

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Available in FiDi & Midtown West – open 7 days a week

man getting a medical massage for Elbow Pain, Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow

Causes

What’s Going On With Elbow Pain?

“Tennis elbow” (lateral epicondylitis) and “golfer’s elbow” (medial epicondylitis) occur when forearm tendons are overloaded faster than they can recover.
Lateral epicondylitis affects 1–3% of adults each year (mostly ages 35–54), while medial epicondylitis is far less common at 0.03–0.04% (StatPearls – NIH 2023; MedScape).
Repetitive gripping, computer work, weight training, racquet sports, heavy lifting, and poor shoulder or rib mechanics can all increase strain on the elbow tendons.
Many cases aren’t primarily elbow problems—they stem from upstream restrictions in the neck, shoulder blade, ribs, or hips that force the forearm muscles to overwork.

At Bodyworks DW, we treat elbow pain as part of a whole-body tension and coordination pattern, not just a forearm tendon issue. Restoring balance through the shoulders, ribs, spine, and hips reduces the strain that travels into the elbow.

Related conditions: See also our Shoulder Pain, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and Neck Pain pages.

How we treat

How Bodyworks DW Treats Elbow Pain

Elbow pain often originates from imbalances in the shoulder blade, ribs, neck, or hips — not just the tendon itself. Anatomy Plate (Gray’s 1918)

We assess shoulder blade glide, rib movement, cervical tension, hip balance, and forearm mechanics to understand why the tendon is overloaded.

The first half of the session focuses on releasing global tension patterns — ribs, shoulder girdle, diaphragm, hips — to reduce strain traveling down the arm. In the second half, we work through the forearm flexors and extensors, biceps, triceps, and the tendon attachment sites using pressure that matches your tolerance and clinical presentation.

As symptoms ease, we integrate ribcage expansion, scapular motion, core balance, and arm swing mechanics to prevent recurring strain on the elbow.

Therapists for Elbow Pain, Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow

Jessica - senior massage therapist at BodyworksDW. Person wearing a light-colored shirt.

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What to Expect

A Progressive Plan

Session 1

Reduce tension through the shoulder, ribs, forearm, and wrist to quickly decrease tendon load. Expect easier gripping and noticeably less sharpness.

Sessions 2–4

Restore healthy shoulder-blade motion, rib mobility, and balanced arm swing to reduce repetitive strain.

Sessions 5–8+

Reinforce whole-body alignment—from the feet up through the hips, ribs, shoulders, neck, and jaw—to support long-term comfort and tendon resilience.

Ready to start feeling better?

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Man getting massage for shoulder pain or shoulder replacement recovery

Care

Home Care That Helps Between Sessions

We’ll teach simple, effective at-home strategies such as:

Forearm flexor/extensor stretches
Rib expansion breathing to reduce shoulder tension
Scapular setting and upward-rotation drills
Gentle isometrics for tendon healing

David Weintraub, LMT in black cardigan, neutral background

Hand & Wrist Routine for Carpal Tunnel Relief & Typing Pain

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Testimonial

What Our Clients Say

“After months of struggling with elbow pain from typing and lifting, this was the first place that treated more than just my forearm. Once they worked on my neck, ribs, and shoulder blade, everything changed.”

- Kevin M.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I know if I have tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow?
Tennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow (extensors), while golfer’s elbow affects the inside (flexors). Both stem from tendon overload — and both are strongly influenced by shoulder and rib mechanics.
Do I need imaging or a doctor's release before receiving massage?
No. Under NYS Title VIII licensure (see NY Board of Education FAQ #28), massage therapists can assess whether your symptoms are safe for massage. We refer out only when necessary.
What makes Bodyworks DW’s approach different?
We relieve pain at the elbow and treat the full upstream chain — ribs, shoulder, neck, hips, and even feet — to prevent recurrence.
How many sessions will I need?
Most clients notice improvement in 2–4 sessions, with long-term changes developing through 5–8 sessions.
Are there precautions for whiplash massage?
es. Acute inflammation, recent trauma, nerve entrapment, or medications affecting tissue integrity require caution or modified pressure.

Full list: NYS Massage Therapy Precautions