Lateral epicondylitis, golfer's elbow, rotator cuff, plantar fasciitis and beyond — multi-practitioner care combining acupuncture, Bowen therapy and remedial massage for lasting recovery.
Book a Sports Injury Consult Pain ManagementLateral epicondylitis — commonly known as tennis elbow — is a tendinopathy affecting the extensor tendons at their attachment to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus (the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow). Despite the name, it is most commonly caused not by playing tennis, but by any repetitive gripping, lifting or wrist-extension activity: computer mouse use, carpentry, painting, manual trades, gardening, and indeed racquet sports.
The condition is characterised by pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow that radiates into the forearm, weakness of grip, and pain that worsens with lifting, gripping, computer use and — notoriously — turning a door handle. It affects approximately one to three per cent of the population and is most prevalent in people aged 40–60 in physically active occupations or hobbies.
At Health Therapies Clinics in Lane Cove, we treat tennis elbow as a tendon overuse condition with local tissue changes and distal referred pain patterns — using a combination of acupuncture at local and distal points, Bowen therapy for the forearm fascia and musculature, and remedial massage for the surrounding tissue. We see clients from Artarmon, Chatswood, Willoughby and the broader North Shore who have often been through standard physio and found incomplete relief.
Initial Consultation: $200 / 90 minutes
Follow-up: $175 / 60 minutes
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 9pm
Location: Suite 1, Level 1, 141 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066
Private Health: HICAPS — Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB, HBF, AHM
Book OnlineIn Traditional Chinese Medicine, tendinopathies and sports injuries are understood through the framework of Bi syndrome — obstruction of Qi and Blood in the channels and sinews. The type of Bi is determined by the predominant pathogenic factor involved.
Pain that is aggravated by cold or damp weather, may move or shift location, and responds to warmth. Common in chronic lateral epicondylitis with underlying constitutional Cold tendency. Treatment uses warming acupuncture, moxibustion and warming herbs to expel the pathogenic factors and restore channel flow.
Pain with local redness, swelling, heat and inflammation — more common in acute or subacute injury. The area feels hot to the touch and may be worse at night. Treatment clears Heat, cools Blood and reduces inflammation — using cooling acupuncture technique and anti-inflammatory herbs where indicated.
Fixed, stabbing, chronic pain that does not respond easily to other treatment. Associated with long-standing injury, adhesions and poor local circulation. Requires aggressive Blood-moving treatment — local bleeding if appropriate, cupping, gua sha and herbal medicine to break up stasis and restore circulation to the tendon.
The Large Intestine channel runs along the lateral forearm and through the region of the lateral epicondyle — making its points naturally relevant to lateral epicondylitis. LI-10 (Shousanli) and LI-11 (Quchi) are the primary local points, selected for their direct action on the forearm extensors and their anti-inflammatory and circulation-promoting effects on the local tissue.
Ashi points — literally "that's the spot" points — are the tender, reactive points identified through palpation of the affected area. They are needled directly into the site of maximum tenderness, often with specific needling techniques (pecking, threading through the tendon) designed to stimulate tendon healing and reduce the nociceptive sensitivity that perpetuates the pain cycle.
Distal point acupuncture — needling points on the opposite limb or along the affected meridian at a distance from the injury — is a powerful technique in sports injury management. Points such as ST-36 on the opposite leg, LU-5 or PC-3 on the same side, or specific microsystem points can produce dramatic immediate pain relief through neurological mechanisms that do not require local tissue stimulation.
The medial equivalent of tennis elbow — involving the flexor-pronator tendons at the inner elbow. Common in golfers, climbers, weight trainers, and those using vibrating tools. Treated with acupuncture at HT-3, PC-3 and ashi points, combined with Bowen therapy for the forearm flexors.
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor injuries — ranging from tendinopathy and bursitis to partial tears. Acupuncture at SI-9, SI-10, LI-15, GB-21 and ashi points, combined with Bowen therapy for the shoulder complex, addresses both local tissue and postural contributors.
Heel and arch pain from fascial restriction at the plantar fascia insertion. Acupuncture at BL-60, KD-3, SP-4 and local plantar points, combined with Bowen therapy (which targets the plantar fascia specifically), provides relief where conventional stretching and orthotics have been insufficient.
What distinguishes care at Health Therapies Clinics is access to multiple modalities coordinated within one clinic — each addressing a different dimension of the sports injury.
Reduces pain through neuromodulation, improves local circulation and tendon healing, and addresses the systemic constitutional factors (Cold, Damp, Deficiency) that may be predisposing the area to injury or delayed healing.
Addresses the fascial component — releasing the entire forearm fascial chain, not just the site of pain. Often produces rapid, sustained relief in chronic cases where local treatment alone has been insufficient. Particularly effective for plantar fasciitis and tennis elbow.
Deep tissue work targeting the forearm extensors, the shoulder and neck muscles contributing to altered biomechanics, and the surrounding myofascial tissue. Combined with acupuncture in the same session or scheduled separately for synergistic effect.
Acute tennis elbow (less than three months) often responds within three to six sessions. Chronic cases (six months or more) typically require eight to twelve sessions. A key factor is activity modification — continuing the aggravating activity without any load reduction will significantly slow recovery regardless of treatment. Your practitioner will discuss activity modification strategies at your first appointment.
This depends on the severity and stage of your injury. In most cases, modified activity is preferable to complete rest — but the type of modification matters. Your practitioner will assess your specific situation and provide guidance on load management, technique modification and when and how to return to full activity.
Yes. Cortisone injections can provide short-term pain relief but do not address the underlying tendon tissue changes driving the pain. They can sometimes weaken the tendon when repeated. We can treat you effectively after cortisone injection, though we allow a minimum of two to four weeks after injection before applying direct local needle stimulation to the injection site.
Sports injury and elbow pain treatment at Health Therapies Clinics, Lane Cove. Open seven days, 9am–9pm. Serving the North Shore including Chatswood, Artarmon and Willoughby.
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