Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer's Elbow: What's the Difference?

By: Active Sports Therapy

Do you experience pain when lifting a coffee mug, opening a jar, gripping a golf club, or carrying groceries? If so, you could be dealing with tennis elbow or golfer's elbow—two common overuse injuries that affect the tendons around the elbow. Despite their names, you don't have to play tennis or golf to develop either condition. Repetitive movements at work, around the house, or during exercise are often the real cause.

What is Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow?

Both conditions are forms of epicondylitis, an overuse injury that causes irritation and inflammation where the forearm muscles attach to the elbow.
The biggest difference is where the pain occurs.
Tennis elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Pain develops on the outside of the elbow.
Golfer's elbow (Medial Epicondylitis): Pain develops on the inside of the elbow.
Both conditions are caused by repetitive strain, but the muscles and tendons involved are different.

What is Golfer's Elbow?

Golfer's elbow affects the tendons on the inside (medial side) of the elbow. It commonly develops from repetitive wrist flexion, gripping, or lifting.

You don't need to play golf to develop golfer's elbow. It is frequently seen in:

Golfers
Gardeners
Tradespeople
Warehouse workers
Cashiers
Anyone performing repetitive lifting or gripping

Common Symptoms of Golfer's Elbow

You may notice:

Pain on the inside of the elbow
Weakness when gripping or lifting objects
Pain when twisting a doorknob or opening a jar
Tenderness along the forearm
Occasional swelling
Wrist or hand weakness

Even lifting a coffee cup can become uncomfortable.

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow affects the tendons on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow and is one of the most common repetitive strain injuries.

While racquet sports can contribute to tennis elbow, it is also common among:

Painters
Carpenters
Mechanics
Cooks
Office workers
Weightlifters
Anyone performing repetitive wrist extension or gripping

Common Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

Symptoms often include:

Pain on the outside of the elbow
Pain when gripping, lifting, or reaching
Weakness in the forearm
Difficulty opening jars or shaking hands
Pain that may travel into the forearm or wrist
A constant dull ache that worsens with activity

How Can You Treat Tennis Elbow or Golfer's Elbow?

Early treatment can help reduce pain, improve healing, and prevent the condition from becoming chronic.

Helpful strategies include:

Rest from aggravating activities
Ice during painful flare-ups
Gradually strengthening the forearm muscles
Stretching exercises prescribed by your practitioner
Improving technique for sports or repetitive work tasks
Wearing an elbow brace if recommended by your healthcare provider
Consistency with your rehabilitation exercises is one of the most important factors in recovery.

Treatment for Elbow Pain

If your elbow pain isn't improving or continues to return, it's important to have it properly assessed. Not all elbow pain is tennis elbow or golfer's elbow, and an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment.

At Active Sports Therapy, our multidisciplinary team creates personalized treatment plans to help reduce pain, restore strength, and get you back to doing what you love.

Treatment may include:

Physiotherapy
Chiropractic Care
Active Release Techniques (ART)
Massage Therapy
Laser Therapy
Individualized rehabilitation exercises
Education on preventing future flare-ups

By addressing the underlying cause—not just the symptoms—we help you recover safely and reduce your risk of recurring injuries.

Don't Let Elbow Pain Slow You Down

Whether your pain started on the golf course, tennis court, at work, or in the gym, early treatment can make all the difference.

If you are experiencing elbow pain, book an assessment with one of our experienced healthcare professionals and start your recovery today.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Top 4 Most Common Golf Injuries

By: Active Sports Therapy

As golfing is a seasonal sport, people often jump into it quickly and with high frequency. Since 18 holes are the most common way to play, overuse injuries can occur. If you develop an injury, it can result in a frustrating experience out on the links as injuries affect your swing, and ultimately, your game.

The most common injuries include:

Golfers Elbow - Will cause pain and inflammation in the tendons that connect the forearm to the elbow. The pain may radiate into the forearm.

Wrist Pain - Can occur and is usually related to the wrist flexor or extensor tendons. Impingement syndrome and tendonitis can also occur.

Shoulder Pain – The lead shoulder is most often the one to be injured in a golfer with the rotator cuff is the most likely to become injured and it is often related to the style and form of the golfer's backswing.

Back Pain- In the upper, mid, or most commonly, the lower back can occur. Golf involves twisting, bending, and reaching down to get the ball out of the cup, all of which can add up to back pain for some.

Tips for Prevention

Swing Mechanics. Even the best golfers are taking 70-90 swings and putts per game. Considering that you can see how easily an overuse injury can occur. Learning proper posture from a golf pro might give you the corrections you need to prevent injury.

Avoid trying to hit the ball too hard. This is common for ‘new golfers’ as they opt for power over the form. Again, a lesson or two might teach you the proper pace required for a mechanically correct swing.

Be sure to use proper mechanics when lifting or carrying your bag, even if it’s just taking them out of the trunk of your car.

Just because golf isn’t a fast, contact sport, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to stretch it out a bit before you play. Stretch your shoulders, chest, triceps, back, and lower body.

Here is a great resource from Golf Digest

How Can your Chiropractor Help with These Injuries?

ART stands for Active Release Techniques. It is a new and highly successful hands-on treatment method to address problems in the soft tissues of the body, including the muscles, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. ART treatment is highly successful in dealing with overuse injuries because it is specifically designed to locate and treat scar tissue adhesions that accumulate in the muscles and surrounding soft tissues.

By locating and treating the soft-tissue adhesions with ART, it allows the practitioner to, 1) break up restrictive adhesions, 2) reinstate normal tissue flexibility and movement, and 3) more completely restore flexibility, balance, and stability to the injured area and the entire kinetic chain.

This style of treatment can be applied to all of your common golf injuries. We can also help you to learn how to prevent further damage through exercises and stretches. Our physiotherapy area has specialized equipment to help speed healing with laser therapy and Game Ready ice machines. We can assign the proper stabilizing brace or suggest supplements if needed.

Book in today at www.activesportstherapy.ca and we’ll help you Get Back to Your Game!