Adelaide Cold Laser
Tennis elbow: could cold laser be worth discussing?
A conservative photobiomodulation option that may be considered for tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) related pain.
Research suggests selected laser protocols may help some tennis-elbow pain or function outcomes. Results depend on dose, wavelength and treatment site. Suitability and individual responses vary.
Lateral epicondylitis information
Go deeperCondition in plain English
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, involves irritation around the outer elbow where forearm tendons attach. People may notice outer-elbow discomfort with gripping, lifting or activity, but these experiences do not confirm a diagnosis.
Symptoms are often linked to repetitive gripping, manual work, racquet sports or extended desk and keyboard use. These are contributing factors among several, not a single cause that applies to everyone with elbow pain.
Other problems may present as elbow pain, including neck referral, nerve irritation or inflammatory conditions. Assessment helps clarify whether physiotherapy, bracing or splinting, activity modification, GP review or another pathway should be considered.
Adelaide Cold Laser does not diagnose lateral epicondylitis from symptoms alone, repair tendon tissue, provide bracing or splinting, or replace physiotherapy or medical care. Curious how the therapy itself works? See What is cold laser therapy?
All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Illustration only. Application context for the lateral elbow region. Not a promise of result.
Care boundary
When should medical or physiotherapy assessment come first?
Seek medical or physiotherapy assessment before routine cold laser care if symptoms include severe or worsening pain, numbness or tingling into the hand, weakness, night pain, marked swelling, fever, or a recent injury to the elbow or arm.
If the diagnosis is uncertain, a physiotherapist or GP may assess whether investigation, bracing or splinting, activity modification, medication discussion or referral is appropriate. Cold laser does not replace those pathways.
This information is general and does not replace medical advice. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Where PBM sits
How may cold laser fit into care for tennis elbow?
Research suggests low-level laser therapy may help some tennis-elbow pain or function outcomes when selected protocols are used. A condition-specific systematic review found results varied by dose, wavelength and whether the laser was applied directly to the lateral elbow tendon insertion. Better-fitting protocols separated out from weaker or negative protocol groups. That is why this page frames the claim around selected protocols, not laser therapy as one uniform treatment.
Tennis elbow is generally managed with conservative approaches first: activity modification, physiotherapy, bracing or splinting, and load management. Adelaide Cold Laser positions PBM as one option that may be considered alongside those approaches and alongside physiotherapy or GP assessment, not as a replacement for them.
Comparative research keeps this claim conservative. Studies comparing low-level laser with other options, including injection, splinting and shockwave therapy pathways, have reported no clear superiority for laser as a class. Adelaide Cold Laser does not present cold laser as better than, a replacement for, or a reason to avoid those other options.
We do not publish visit counts, frequency plans, or predicted timelines. Those questions are handled case by case after assessment.
All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Your first visit
What happens at an initial consultation?
History and assessment. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) listens to your concern, reviews relevant history and prior care, and assesses the presentation without assuming every outer-elbow pain pattern is tennis elbow.
Suitability discussion. You discuss suitability, evidence limits, and whether another pathway should come first or continue alongside cold laser. If care is appropriate, the next step is agreed with you. Where possible, treatment is provided on your first visit.*
Pricing and autonomy. Initial consultation $99. Standard visits $120. Cold laser is private pay and is not covered by private health fund rebates. No lock-in plans. The decision is always yours.
The device. Treatment is delivered with the Multi Radiance MR5 ACTIV PRO, included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG 370913). The register entry is a supply listing for the device category. It is not an efficacy endorsement. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
*Where possible, treatment is provided on your first visit. This is subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability, and cold laser may not be suitable for everyone. Individual responses vary.
The evidence, in full
What does the research say?
Tennis-elbow laser research is older and more protocol-dependent than the evidence for some other conditions. Systematic reviews and trials suggest selected laser protocols may help some pain or function outcomes. The studies used different protocols and comparators. Their findings do not predict an individual response or establish that every device and protocol is equivalent.
Lateral epicondylitis-specific review. Findings depended on dose, wavelength and direct treatment of the lateral elbow tendon insertion. Protocols matching those parameters separated from weaker or negative protocol groups.
Supports a hedged claim that selected protocols may be considered, not that any laser protocol works. Not a personal outcome promise. PMID 18510742
Compared high-intensity and low-level laser studies across pain, grip strength and function outcomes. Used here as current research context, not as proof that one Adelaide Cold Laser protocol matches every trial arm.
Supports continued research interest, not superiority over other care. PMID 40856482
Photobiomodulation combined with a static magnetic field was studied against placebo for lateral epicondylitis pain and function outcomes. Device relevance is not device equivalence: exact wavelength, dose and schedule alignment with Adelaide Cold Laser care are not claimed.
Background context only. Not a promise that the trial protocol is the clinic protocol. PMID 41047274
Low-level laser therapy was compared with platelet-rich plasma injection, splinting, extracorporeal shockwave therapy and corticosteroid injection. No statistically significant difference was found between groups across outcome measures.
Neutral comparative context only. Never framed as laser superiority over injections, splinting or shockwave. PMID 41400750
Compared laser therapy with extracorporeal shockwave therapy and reported broadly comparable findings overall, with a grip-strength subgroup caveat noted in that review.
Keeps laser positioned alongside other conservative options, not above them. PMID 41449210
Research summaries describe group findings, not a promise of individual results. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Broader care frame
How may cold laser fit with other care?
Options may be complementary. The appropriate route depends on diagnosis, health history, goals and response.
Assessment, diagnosis and referral where indicated. Ask what needs clarification before choosing care.
Support load management, mobility and tolerance for work or sport. Ask which activities fit this presentation.
Address relevant load factors where indicated. Ask whether physiotherapy or medical review is appropriate first.
One device-based option studied under selected protocols for tennis elbow. Ask how well the evidence fits the diagnosis and wider plan.
Cold laser is one option, not a replacement for medical or physiotherapy care. Photobiomodulation does not replace GP care, physiotherapy assessment, bracing or splinting, injection discussions, or specialist referral when those are clinically appropriate.
All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Common questions
Tennis elbow and cold laser, answered.
Can cold laser therapy help with tennis elbow?
Research suggests selected laser protocols may help some tennis-elbow pain or function outcomes, with results dependent on the dose, wavelength and treatment site used. It does not diagnose lateral epicondylitis, repair tendon tissue, or replace physiotherapy or medical care, and individual responses vary.
Is cold laser better than a cortisone injection, PRP, or shockwave therapy?
No. Comparative research found no statistically significant difference between low-level laser therapy and platelet-rich plasma injection, splinting, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, or corticosteroid injection across outcome measures. Adelaide Cold Laser does not present cold laser therapy as superior to, or a replacement for, these other options.
Will it replace physiotherapy or my doctor’s advice?
No. Tennis-elbow pain is often first assessed by a physiotherapist or GP. Adelaide Cold Laser does not diagnose lateral epicondylitis, provide bracing or splinting, or manage workplace ergonomics. PBM may be considered as a complement to physiotherapy or medical care, not a replacement for it.
How many visits will I need?
That is not estimated in public information. Your presentation, goals and response need to be assessed before any care plan is discussed. Adelaide Cold Laser does not use lock-in plans.
Is cold laser therapy covered by private health fund rebates?
No. Cold laser therapy at Adelaide Cold Laser is not covered by private health fund rebates. The initial consultation is $99, and standard visits are $120.
What device do you use?
Adelaide Cold Laser uses the Multi Radiance MR5 ACTIV PRO, included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG 370913). That register wording is not a claim that the device will produce a particular result for any individual person. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
Ready when you are
Would you like to talk it through?
Book an initial consultation to discuss your presentation, the evidence, other care you may need, and whether cold laser is worth considering.
Initial consultation $99 · standard $120 · no lock-in
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)
BSc, MChiro (Macquarie University)
Cold Laser: Initial Consultation
$99 · 30 min · Plympton Park
A first cold laser consultation with Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) at 528 Marion Road, Plympton Park.
Your first visit
Book your consultation
- No lock-in plans
- Treatment on your first visit where possible*
- The decision is always yours
Book a Consultation
Prefer to talk first? Call (08) 8297 5277, or send us a message.
Booking a consultation does not mean treatment is suitable or required. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Get in touch
Still weighing it up?
Ask us anything you like about outer-elbow pain, tennis elbow, or whether cold laser may be worth discussing. We will do our best to let you know whether it may be a reasonable option for you.
All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. This is general information, not medical advice. Individual responses vary.