A lot of people assume tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow refer to the same condition, but this is not true. While both are orthopedic conditions that develop as a result of overuse of the elbow and arm, they are in fact different.
Here is a breakdown of tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow:
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury that is felt on the outside of the elbow. It is caused by repetitive motions in which the wrist is overextended and the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscles are stressed. The motions involved in this overuse injury are similar to that of hand motions you do when playing tennis. They include repetitive gripping, which can damage the tendons in the elbow. You are at risk of developing tennis elbow if you play tennis, squash, ping-pong, badminton, baseball, football, or weightlifting. Certain professions make you susceptible to developing tennis elbow, as well, such as gardening, home maintenance, painting, plumbing, carpentry, and auto repair.
Tennis elbow symptoms include pain when you grip an object, difficulty straightening the wrist and raising your hand without pain, and soreness and tenderness in the bony protrusion of your elbow.
Golfer’s elbow, also called medial epicondylitis, is an overuse injury that primarily affects the inside of the elbow. The pain begins in the inside of the elbow and can spread to the forearm and wrist. It is caused by repetitive wrists flexion movements such as swinging, twisting, and throwing.
The same sports that cause tennis elbow can also cause golfer’s elbow, but it is more common among those who play golf and sports that require a swinging motion followed by throwing, such as baseball, football, fencing, and archery.
There are also some occupations that make you more prone to developing golfer’s elbow, such as typists, writers, painters, carpenters, construction workers, and maintenance and home repair workers. Symptoms of golfer’s elbow include pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow and forearm and weakness when you attempt to pick up something with the affected arm.
Treatment and Prevention for Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia
If you play sports or have a high-risk occupation, you should invest in injury prevention in order to avoid future complications associated with a history of injuries, like osteoarthritis.
At Watauga Orthopedics, we specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sports and occupation injuries. Sports medicine is one of our areas of expertise, and you can count on our sports medicine specialists to help you return quickly to your pre-injury level of activity.
Most cases of tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow injuries respond well to nonsurgical treatment methods. As part of our comprehensive care, we also provide injury prevention services. Our talented team of orthopedic specialists maintains a positive and supportive environment for all our patients. Have us take a look at your injury and recommend an effective treatment plan.
To schedule a consultation, call Watauga Orthopedics at (423) 282-9011 or request an appointment now.