Tennis Elbow vs Golfer's Elbow: How to Tell the Difference

2 June

Elbow pain when gripping the kettle, turning a doorknob, or shaking hands often leads people to wonder whether they have tennis elbow or golfer's elbow. Both are elbow overuse injuries that can make everyday tasks uncomfortable, but they affect different sides of the elbow and involve different tendons.

Tennis elbow causes pain on the outside. Golfer's elbow causes pain on the inside. Location is the first clue, but a clinical assessment is often needed to help clarify which structures may be involved and rule out other causes of elbow pain.

General information only. Symptoms vary and diagnosis requires assessment by a qualified health professional.

What Is Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow, known clinically as lateral epicondylitis or lateral epicondylalgia, involves the tendons that attach to the bony bump on the outside of your elbow. This is the common extensor origin, where your wrist extensor muscles anchor.

These muscles lift the back of your hand upward and help stabilise the wrist during gripping. When they're overloaded through repetitive use, the tendon attachment can become irritated and painful.

Tennis elbow symptoms typically include lateral elbow pain that worsens when gripping, lifting with the palm down, or turning a doorknob. Many people notice it most when pouring a kettle or shaking hands. The outside of the elbow may feel tender to touch.

Despite the name, tennis players make up only about 5% of cases. Research suggests a 1-3% prevalence in the general population, with peak incidence between ages 35 and 55. The dominant arm is affected in roughly 75% of cases.

What Is Golfer's Elbow

Golfer's elbow, clinically called medial epicondylitis or medial epicondylalgia, affects the inner side of the elbow. The common flexor origin is where your wrist flexor and forearm pronator muscles attach.

These muscles curl your wrist downward and rotate your forearm palm-down. Repetitive gripping, throwing, or activities involving wrist flexion can overload the tendon attachment.

Golfers elbow symptoms include medial elbow pain that flares with gripping, lifting, or throwing. Pain may radiate into the forearm. The inside of the elbow is tender when pressed.

You can develop golfers elbow without playing golf. It's common in throwing sports, weightlifting, and occupations involving repetitive gripping or tool use. Golfer's elbow is less common than tennis elbow, affecting approximately 10% of all elbow tendinopathy cases.

How to Tell the Difference

When comparing tennis elbow vs golfers elbow, location is the clearest distinguishing feature.

Tennis elbow produces pain on the outer (lateral) elbow. It typically worsens with wrist extension movements, like lifting something with your palm facing down. The outside bony bump is tender to touch.

Golfer's elbow produces pain on the inner (medial) elbow. It typically worsens with wrist flexion or gripping. The inside bony bump is tender, and pain may radiate into the forearm.

A simple self-test can help. Hold your arm straight, make a fist, and lift the back of your hand against resistance. Pain on the outside of the elbow suggests tennis elbow. For golfer's elbow, flex your wrist against resistance instead. Pain on the inside suggests medial involvement.

Other conditions can produce similar symptoms, including nerve involvement and referred pain from the neck or shoulder. Our blog on referred pain vs nerve pain explains how pain can travel from other structures.

What Causes Elbow Tendinopathy

Despite names ending in '-itis' (suggesting inflammation), research shows these conditions involve tendon degeneration rather than acute inflammation. The term elbow tendinopathy is more accurate. The tendon structure changes over time with repetitive loading, leading to pain and reduced tolerance for activity.

Common contributors include repetitive gripping, poor technique in racquet sports or golf, sudden increases in training load, and occupational tasks involving sustained forearm use.

What About Recovery

Tennis elbow recovery time is one of the most common questions people ask, and it varies considerably. Research suggests typical episodes last 6-24 months, though individual experiences differ widely. Some people improve relatively quickly with activity modification. Others find it more persistent, particularly if occupational demands make it difficult to rest the affected arm.

The same applies to golfer's elbow. How long symptoms have been present, what triggered them, and what activities you need to return to can all influence the timeline.

When Elbow Pain Requires Urgent Assessment

Certain symptoms warrant prompt medical review rather than a routine physiotherapy booking. These include significant trauma such as a fall or direct blow to the elbow, visible deformity or sudden inability to move the elbow, and numbness, tingling, or weakness extending into the hand or fingers.

Sudden onset of severe pain without an obvious cause, or elbow pain accompanied by fever or significant swelling, should also prompt GP review or emergency assessment.

Physiotherapy Assessment in Adelaide

Many people ask can a physio diagnose tennis elbow. Physiotherapists can assess your elbow, help determine which structures may be involved, and guide appropriate management. Assessment typically includes examining tenderness, testing specific movements against resistance, and ruling out other possible causes of elbow pain like nerve involvement or joint issues.

Ducker Physio provides assessment for lateral epicondylitis vs medial epicondylitis at both Adelaide locations. Whether you're searching for tennis elbow physio Adelaide, elbow pain physio Magill, or elbow pain physio Salisbury, both clinics provide the same assessment.

Physiotherapy isn't suitable for all presentations, and individual responses to treatment vary.

No GP referral required. Book an appointment at the most convenient clinic.

Ducker Physio Magill
465/467 The Parade, Magill SA 5072
Phone: 08 7092 5962

Ducker Physio Salisbury
9 Mary Street, Salisbury SA 5108
Phone: 08 7092 5964

General information only. Individual symptoms and appropriate treatment vary. If you experience sudden severe pain, significant swelling, or inability to move your elbow, seek prompt medical assessment.