And poor technique in sports can cause this injury, which is why those with a less than adequate stroke technique in tennis often develop tennis elbow.

A doctor visit can determine whether the problem is actually tennis elbow. Movement tests and x-rays may be recommended for diagnosis, according to the AAOS. A doctor also may suggest an MRI or an EMG (electromyography). The good news is that surgery is often not required with tennis elbow. In fact, nonsurgical treatment is successful for approximately 80 to 95 percent of patients, reports the AAOS.

One of the first things that doctors will recommend is simple rest of the area affected. This gives the injury time to recover. (In other words, no tennis or strenuous exercise involving the area for a while.)

In addition, he or she may suggest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. These can help with swelling. It's a good idea to check equipment to make sure it isn’t contributing to the injury. “Stiffer racquets and looser-strung racquets often can reduce the stress on the forearm, which means that the forearm muscles do not have to work as hard,” the AAOS says. And using a smaller-headed racket as opposed to an oversized one may help as well.

A number of other options may be encouraged. The first is physical therapy, which helps to strengthen muscles. The second is a brace, which helps to rest the area in general. And the third is cortisone injections, which may reduce inflammation.

Another more experimental method of treatment used in tennis elbow is extracorporeal shock wave therapy. “Shock wave therapy sends sound waves to the elbow,” according to the AAOS. “These sound waves create ‘microtrauma’ that promote the body's natural healing processes.”