Elbow and arm pain in West Hampstead: what’s really going on?
Gripping a coffee cup, typing, carrying the shopping home up West End Lane. When your elbow or forearm hurts, everyday life gets harder. Here’s how we work out the cause and fix it.
★★★★★ 5.0 on Google from our West Hampstead patients
Quick answer: Most elbow and forearm pain comes from an irritated tendon (tennis elbow on the outside, golfer’s elbow on the inside) or is referred from your neck. Both respond well to the right exercise and hands-on treatment. Tennis elbow usually settles within a year, but the right plan can get you there sooner and help stop it coming back. At our West Hampstead clinic, opposite West Hampstead Thameslink, Otis and Tyrone can assess you this week.
Where exactly does it hurt?
The spot that hurts tells us a lot. It’s the first thing your physio will ask, so it’s worth thinking about before you come in.
Outside of the elbow
Tennis elbow (lateral elbow tendinopathy)
Pain on the bony bump on the outside, worse gripping, lifting a kettle or using a mouse. Only a small number of people get it from tennis.
Inside of the elbow
Golfer’s elbow (medial elbow tendinopathy)
Pain on the inside bump, often after lifting, climbing or repetitive gripping. Less common than tennis elbow.
Pain spreading down the arm
Often referred from the neck
Aching, pins and needles or a band of pain down the arm, sometimes with neck stiffness. The elbow itself may test fine.
Tennis elbow: common, stubborn but very treatable
Tennis elbow affects up to 3% of adults and peaks in your 40s and 50s. Despite the name, tennis is a direct cause in only about 1 in 20 people. Much more often it’s a busy period of DIY, a new gym routine, a house move or long days on a laptop.
The good news is that it’s usually self-limiting. NHS guidance describes 80 to 90% of people improving over one to two years. That’s a long time to wait with a sore arm, though and the right loading programme can speed things up.
One thing we often discuss is steroid injections. In a well-known trial published in JAMA, people who had a steroid injection felt better at four weeks but did worse at a year, with far more relapses than those given a placebo injection. We’re not against injections, but we want you to know the trade-off.
Tennis elbow rehab exercises our physios use
1-3%
of adults have lateral elbow pain at any one time, with a peak at 40 to 50 years of age.
BMJ Clinical Evidence systematic review
80-90%
of people with tennis or golfer’s elbow improve over one to two years.
NHS Lothian MSK pathway, citing NICE CKS
54% vs 12%
one-year recurrence after a steroid injection compared with a placebo injection.
Coombes et al, JAMA 2013
Why arm and shoulder pain is sometimes coming from the neck
When arm pain is really coming from your neck
Sometimes the elbow is the victim, not the culprit. Irritation of a nerve in the neck can send pain, tingling or heaviness down the arm and into the forearm. People often tell us their “tennis elbow” hasn’t responded to anything and when we check the neck we find the real source.
Research also shows that having neck pain alongside elbow pain is linked to a slower recovery. That’s why your physio will always check your neck and shoulder as well as the elbow, so you don’t spend weeks treating the wrong thing.
Otis has a particular interest in neck and shoulder pain, which makes him a great fit when arm symptoms don’t follow the textbook.
How we treat elbow and arm pain in West Hampstead
Your first appointment is a full assessment and treatment in one visit. We’ll find what’s driving the pain, explain it in plain English and start treatment straight away.
- Load, don’t rest it completely: tendons recover best with a gradual, well-judged strengthening programme, not weeks in a sling
- Hands-on treatment: soft tissue work, joint mobilisation and, where it suits you, dry needling or acupuncture to calm pain
- Taping or a brace: a short-term helper to get you through work or training
- Your desk and your grip: small changes to your mouse, keyboard and lifting technique make a real difference
- Neck and shoulder: treated too, if they’re part of the picture
I love assessing, treating and rehabilitating people to achieve their goals whether it’s getting some one back on their feet, back to their sporting activity or trying to avoid surgery.
Tyrone Kon, Specialist Physiotherapist and Director, from his BOOST PHYSIO profile
Elbow or arm pain holding you back?
See a West Hampstead physio this week. No GP referral needed.
When to get checked urgently
Most elbow and arm pain isn’t serious, but please seek medical advice quickly if you have:
- Severe pain, swelling or a deformed elbow after a fall
- Weakness in your hand or arm that is getting worse
- Pins and needles or numbness in both arms or hands
- A hot, red, swollen elbow or you feel feverish
- Arm pain with chest pain or breathlessness: call 999
What West Hampstead patients say
★★★★★
“He asked the right questions, his knowledge was really impressive and he helped me with a clear plan of recovery and treatment going forward.”
Tanya C., Google review, West Hampstead
★★★★★
“After just three sessions with Tyrone my neck is so much better, and the problem has effectively been resolved.”
Susan, Google review, West Hampstead
★★★★★
“He was friendly, professional and took the time to listen to my concerns and understand what I was experiencing.”
Nell T., Google review, West Hampstead
Your West Hampstead physios
Otis Barton-Black
Chartered Physiotherapist, West Hampstead
Otis has over four years’ experience across sports, musculoskeletal clinics and hospital physiotherapy. He combines hands-on treatment with personalised rehab and has a particular interest in neck and shoulder pain, long-standing injuries and getting people safely back to sport and exercise.
Tyrone Kon
Specialist Physiotherapist and Director, West Hampstead
Tyrone has more than 15 years’ experience, with postgraduate training in acupuncture and spinal manipulation. He leads our West Hampstead clinic.
Watch: elbow and arm advice from our physios
Short videos from the BOOST PHYSIO team. Tap to play.
Pain on the inside of the elbow: golfer’s elbow
Three exercises for wrist and forearm pain from typing
Hands-on treatment for a trapped nerve in the neck
Meet Otis at our West Hampstead clinic
| Clinic | BOOST PHYSIO West Hampstead, Apex Health, 160 West End Lane, London NW6 1HU |
|---|---|
| Getting here | Opposite West Hampstead Thameslink, a few minutes’ walk from the Jubilee line and Overground stations |
| Physios | Otis Barton-Black and Tyrone Kon |
| Common conditions | Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, forearm and wrist pain, arm pain from the neck |
| Insurance | Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, WPA and Aviva |
| Referral | Not needed. Book online, call or WhatsApp us |
Why patients choose BOOST PHYSIO
West Hampstead is one of 13 BOOST PHYSIO clinics across North London and Hertfordshire. Being part of a bigger group matters more than most people realise. Our physios train together twice a month and every physio has a dedicated mentor who reviews cases with them, so when you see one of us you get the experience of the whole team behind them.
We combine hands-on treatment with exercise rehabilitation built around you, then adjust it as you progress. That’s what sits behind our promise: Your Best Recovery, Guaranteed.
- Same day appointments, seven days a week
- No GP referral needed to book
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, WPA and Aviva
- Strong links with London’s leading consultants and surgeons
Can’t make West Hampstead? Our Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Hampstead and Kentish Town clinics are all close by. You can also read more about our West Hampstead physio clinic.
Book your West Hampstead appointment
Same day appointments, seven days a week, at 160 West End Lane.
Related reading
Tennis elbow physio in London
Neck pain physio in London
Neck and shoulder pain in NW6: a guide for commuters
Weekend sport knee injury in West Hampstead
Shoulder pain physio in LondonHow much does private physio cost in London?Your questions answered
How do I know if I have tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow usually causes pain on the bony point on the outside of the elbow, made worse by gripping, lifting with your palm down or using a mouse. A physio can confirm it with a few simple tests and check that your neck isn’t involved.
Is tennis elbow the same as golfer’s elbow?
No. Tennis elbow affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow and golfer’s elbow the tendons on the inside. They are treated in a similar way, with gradual strengthening and hands-on treatment.
How long does tennis elbow take to heal?
It is usually self-limiting and most people improve within one to two years, with many much sooner. A structured rehab programme helps you recover faster and lowers the chance of it coming back.
Should I have a steroid injection for tennis elbow?
Injections can ease pain in the short term, but a major trial found people who had a steroid injection did worse at one year and relapsed more often. We’ll talk through the pros and cons with you.
Can neck problems cause elbow or arm pain?
Yes. An irritated nerve in the neck can cause pain, pins and needles or weakness down the arm. That’s why our physios always check your neck when you come in with arm pain.
Do I need a GP referral to see a physio in West Hampstead?
No. You can book directly online, by phone or on WhatsApp. If you’re claiming on health insurance, check whether your insurer needs a GP referral first.
Where is the BOOST PHYSIO West Hampstead clinic?
At Apex Health, 160 West End Lane, London NW6 1HU, opposite West Hampstead Thameslink and close to the Jubilee line and Overground stations.
Does insurance cover physio for elbow pain?
Usually, yes. We are recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, WPA and Aviva. Get your authorisation code from your insurer before your first visit.
Written and clinically reviewed by Steven Berkman, BSc Physiotherapy (University of Cape Town), HCPC-registered chartered physiotherapist, MCSP, founder of BOOST PHYSIO in 2008, with Otis Barton-Black and Tyrone Kon at BOOST PHYSIO West Hampstead. Last reviewed 28 October 2026.
References
- Tennis elbow. BMJ Clinical Evidence systematic review (PubMed Central PMC2907994).
- NHS Lothian MSK pathways. Elbow conditions: tennis and golfer’s elbow (citing NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Tennis elbow).
- Coombes BK et al. Effect of corticosteroid injection, physiotherapy, or both on clinical outcomes in patients with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia. JAMA 2013;309(5):461-469.
- Smidt N et al. Lateral epicondylitis in general practice: course and prognostic indicators of outcome. J Rheumatol 2006;33(10):2053-2059.
This article is general guidance and is not a substitute for an individual physiotherapy assessment. If you have severe or worsening pain, numbness, weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or you feel unwell, seek urgent medical advice.
