Update on Lateral Elbow Pain: From Research to Clinical Practice

Overview 

Lateral elbow pain (LEP), commonly referred to as lateral epicondylalgia, remains one of the most challenging upper-limb conditions to assess and manage in clinical practice. Evolving research has reshaped how clinicians understand pain mechanisms, loading strategies, and treatment effectiveness—yet translating this evidence into day-to-day care can be difficult.

This course provides a concise, evidence-informed update on lateral elbow pain, bridging current research with practical clinical decision-making. Designed for physiotherapists and rehabilitation professionals, the course encourages critical thinking while offering clinically relevant assessment and treatment considerations that can be applied immediately.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe current evidence related to the assessment and management of lateral elbow pain

2. Explain the relationship between local tissue pathology, and sensorimotor impairments and the clinical presentation of elbow pain
   
   

3. Critically evaluate commonly used interventions, including isometric loading strategies

4. Integrate exercise-based and load-management approaches into individualized treatment plans

5. Translate the evidence into clinical practice and clinical reasoning of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of the multi-disciplinary team management of patients with elbow injuries

Course Content Highlights

• Contemporary understanding of lateral elbow pain mechanisms

• Evidence-informed assessment strategies

• Exercise and loading considerations, including isometrics

• Clinical reasoning frameworks to support individualized care

• Practical treatment ideas grounded in current research

Note: While this course emphasizes clinical reasoning and evidence translation, future learners seeking more detailed exercise demonstrations or expanded reference lists may supplement this course with hands-on or advanced modules.

Audience

This course is ideal for:

• Physiotherapists

• Physical therapist assistants

• Occupational therapists

• Rehabilitation professionals managing upper-limb pain

Suitable for clinicians working in outpatient orthopaedics, sports rehabilitation, and general musculoskeletal practice.

Relevance to Physiotherapy Practice

Effective management of elbow injuries requires a sound knowledge of the anatomy, pathology, and physiology of the elbow and appropriate assessment and treatment skills. The aim of this webinar is to provide physiotherapists with an opportunity to improve their knowledge and clinical reasoning relevant to the assessment and treatment of common elbow injuries.

Learner Feedback

Participants consistently report increased confidence and improved clinical reasoning when managing lateral elbow pain:

“Very informative and well explained. Thank you!”

“Interesting course that changed the way I think about elbow pain.”

“This course provided me with an updated assessment and treatment protocol…I am more confident now to manage my current and future patients.”

Feedback has also highlighted interest in:

• Expanded references related to isometric protocols

• Additional exercise demonstrations

This input continues to inform future course development and updates.

About the Presenter

Leanne Bisset, PhD, MPhty (Manip), MPhty (Sports), BPhty
Titled Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapist (Australian Physiotherapy Association)

Leanne Bisset is an Associate Professor in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Discipline Lead, and Program Director of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy within the School of Allied Health Sciences at Griffith University. She also maintains a part-time clinical practice with a specialist referral base for complex upper-limb musculoskeletal conditions.

With more than 25 years of clinical experience in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy, Leanne brings a strong research-to-practice perspective to education and clinical reasoning. She holds two postgraduate Master’s degrees (Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy) and completed her PhD at the University of Queensland in 2008.

Leanne has led and collaborated on multiple clinical trials investigating physiotherapy and medical interventions for chronic upper-limb musculoskeletal pain. Her scholarly contributions include:

• 60+ peer-reviewed journal articles with over 3,000 citations

• Four book chapters, including Grieve’s Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (4th Edition)

• Supervision of 1 MPhil and 7 PhD students to completion, with ongoing supervision of postgraduate research students

• Over AUD $2 million in competitive research grant funding

She is a frequently invited national and international speaker and is widely recognized as a leading expert in the assessment and management of non-traumatic elbow disorders, with particular expertise in translating research evidence into clinical practice.

Accreditation & CEUs

This course is offered by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and may count toward continuing education requirements, depending on your professional jurisdiction.