Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Tendonitis

Low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) is an outpatient treatment that directs a very small amount of radiation at an inflamed area, aiming to calm the inflammation that drives chronic pain. Tendonitis, including epicondylitis (commonly known as tennis elbow or golfer's elbow), is one of several tendon and soft-tissue conditions treated with LDRT, particularly in parts of Europe where this use has a long clinical history.

What the Evidence Shows

A prospective Swiss study followed patients with epicondylitis, along with plantar fasciitis and finger osteoarthritis, before and after LDRT. Patients with epicondylitis had significant pain relief at rest and during activity, along with an objective improvement in handgrip strength, with benefits maintained at 12 months of follow-up.^[1]

A 2026 clinical review of LDRT for musculoskeletal conditions summarized supporting data for tendinopathies of various joints alongside epicondylitis and bursitis, describing this as an area with meaningful international evidence, even though it remains far less studied and used in the United States than in Germany and other European countries.^[2] A historical review of radiotherapy for inflammatory conditions covering more than 37,000 patients treated in the early-to-mid 20th century found tendonitis to be one of the conditions with frequently long-lasting relief, in some cases described by treating physicians as permanent.^[3]

Typical Schedule

• Total dose of about 3 to 6 Gy, depending on the program's protocol, split into 6 treatments
• Treatments given 2 to 3 times per week, over about 2 to 3 weeks
• Each visit takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes; no needle, sedation, or recovery period

Who May Be a Candidate

Programs generally consider adults with chronic tendonitis or epicondylitis who have already tried conservative treatments such as rest, bracing, physical therapy, or corticosteroid injections without lasting relief. Most published studies enrolled patients over the age of 40. A radiation oncologist weighs age, duration of symptoms, and prior treatment history before recommending it.

References:
1. Rogers S, et al. Prospective Evaluation of Changes in Pain Levels, Quality of Life and Functionality After Low Dose Radiotherapy for Epicondylitis, Plantar Fasciitis, and Finger Osteoarthritis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;7:195. PMC
2. Hoveidaei AH, et al. Low-dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT) in Managing Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Review. Curr Ther Res. 2025. PMC
3. Calabrese EJ, et al. Radiotherapy treatment of human inflammatory diseases and conditions: Optimal dose. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2019. SAGE Journals