If you’ve ever had elbow pain, you’ve probably heard the terms “tennis elbow” and “golfer’s elbow” — and considering they share a few similarities, you may have wondered if they’re actually the same condition. The answer: They’re not — but telling the difference isn’t always easy, especially without a medical evaluation.
Even more confusing, you don’t need to play tennis or golf to develop either of these conditions. Plenty of people develop one or the other thanks to repetitive and overuse injuries from non-athletic activities that involve lifting, grasping, or “swinging” your arms.
The team at Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics is skilled in diagnosing and treating both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, providing solutions to relieve pain and prevent future problems. Here’s what you should know about these two common elbow problems.
To understand the differences between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, you first need to know a little bit about elbow anatomy. Although most of us think of the elbow joint as a simple hinge, its structure is surprisingly complex.
The elbow joint forms where the three arm bones join: the humerus or upper arm bone, along with the ulna and radius in the lower arm. The end of the humerus features two lumps or bumps called epicondyles that attach to the tendons and muscles responsible for joint movement. The lateral epicondyle is on the outer side of the humerus, and the medial epicondyle is on the side closest to your body.
The joint is designed to move your arm in four different ways:
Combined, these movements support a wide range of functions — and when something goes wrong with part of your elbow joint, you can wind up with considerable pain and stiffness.
Both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow can cause painful symptoms in and around your elbow, and both are associated with repetitive movements that irritate and break down tendons and muscle fibers that support the joint.
However, while there are definitely some similarities, there are also some key differences between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, and understanding these differences plays a crucial role in both diagnosis and treatment.
Specifically, tennis elbow involves the tendons on the outside of your elbow joint — the lateral epicondyle. Hence, its medical name: lateral epicondylitis. If you have tennis elbow, you’ll experience pain and tenderness on the lateral side of your elbow.
On the other hand, golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) affects the medial epicondyle and the tendons on the medial — or “body side” — of the elbow joint. Golfer’s elbow causes similar symptoms — pain and tenderness — but on the medial side of the joint.
Both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow earned their nicknames because the symptoms associated with the conditions can be triggered by the repetitive movements of swinging a tennis racket or a golf club. But as noted earlier, any repetitive movement involving your forearms and even your hands can cause tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, too.
Managing golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow begins with a comprehensive exam of your elbow and a review of your symptoms. We may recommend diagnostic imaging, as well, to rule out fractures and confirm your diagnosis.
Once the diagnosis of tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow is made, the next step is developing a treatment plan to reduce inflammation and improve overall joint function and health. The good news: Both conditions typically resolve with conservative treatment options that usually include a combination of:
For more advanced tendonitis, we might recommend injections or laser therapy to relieve pain and inflammation while stimulating natural healing.
Elbow pain might not seem like a big deal, but delaying care can lead to permanent joint disability. To learn what’s causing your elbow symptoms and how we can help, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics today.
