If you’re an avid golfer or tennis player, chances are you have heard the terms golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow. But did you know that you don’t have to be a golfer or tennis player to experience one of these conditions?
Let’s explore what each of these terms mean and what causes each of them.
What is Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, describes a tendinitis of the muscles that flex your wrist.
The muscles that flex your wrist attach at your inner elbow and this is where the pain occurs with golfer’s elbow.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, describes a tendinitis of the muscles that extend your wrist.
The muscles that extend your wrist attach at your outer elbow and this is where people will report pain if they have tennis elbow.
What are the symptoms of Golfer’s and Tennis Elbow?
In both cases, you will experience a burning and aching sensation in part of the elbow joint. What differs between the two is the location of the pain.
Golfer’s elbow will cause pain in the inner elbow while tennis elbow will cause pain in the outer elbow.
The actions that cause pain will also differ some. But both groups will experience pain when gripping items and opening jars.
What causes Golfer’s and Tennis Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is usually caused by repetitive overuse of the forearm flexor muscles, which is why a golfing swing commonly causes this condition.
On the other hand, tennis elbow is going to be caused by excessive and repetitive use of the extensor muscles in your forearm.
These muscles are engaged when an individual uses a backhand swing in tennis. You also commonly use the extensor muscles when performing tool-based work like swinging a hammer.
The pain itself is generated by the inflammation that occurs in the tendon as a result of the overuse of those muscles.
Potential Diagnoses
In both cases, these diagnoses are often given in isolation.
But these diagnoses may be associated with one of the following:
- Trauma to the elbow joint
- A manual labor job
- Lack of recovery in relation to golfing or tennis
- Weakness in the wrist muscles in relation to gripping
Did you know?
Did you know if you have a metabolic condition such as diabetes you are at a greater risk for developing tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow?
When you have diabetes, your body is often not able to recover as well from activities and this can result in a greater risk of inflammation in your tendons.
So if you have diabetes, you will want to be extra mindful of how you recover after activities to avoid these types of tendinitis in your elbow.
