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

Both tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are forms of elbow tendinitis, which means tendons in the elbow become inflamed due to overuse. Although they share many similarities, tennis elbow and golfer's elbow affect different tendons and cause pain in different areas of the elbow.

Tennis elbow

What is tennis elbow?  

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylalgia, occurs when the tendons on the outside of the elbow become irritated and overloaded. It is commonly associated with repetitive gripping, lifting, and wrist extension activities.

Despite the name, tennis is only one possible cause. Typing, prolonged mouse use, weight training, manual labour, and DIY projects can all contribute to the condition.

What does tennis elbow feel like?  

Tennis elbow usually shows up as pain on the outside of the elbow. It often starts as a small niggle, but gradually becomes harder to ignore when everyday tasks begin to hurt.

You might feel it when you:

• Pick up a kettle or coffee mug
• Carry shopping bags
• Grip tools, gym weights, or a racquet
• Type or use a mouse for long periods
• Wake up with forearm tightness or stiffness

Some people also notice their grip feels weaker than usual, especially when opening jars, lifting objects, or holding onto things for a while.

Treatment options  

Most cases improve well with physiotherapy, especially when treatment focuses on rebuilding the tendon’s strength rather than simply resting the arm.

Your treatment may include:

• Gradual strengthening exercises for the forearm and wrist
• Grip exercises to help you lift and hold objects more comfortably
• Manual therayp to ease pain and improve movement
• Ergonomic changes for work, typing, or tool use
• Shockwave therapy for more stubborn cases

Golfer's elbow

What is golfer's elbow?  

Golfer's elbow, or medial epicondylalgia, affects the tendons on the inside of the elbow. Like tennis elbow, it develops when these tendons are repeatedly overloaded and unable to recover fully between activities.

Although commonly associated with golf, it can also affect people who regularly lift, carry, throw, climb, or perform repetitive hand-intensive tasks.

What does golfer's elbow feel like?  

Golfer’s elbow is usually felt on the inside of the elbow. It may start as a mild ache or tenderness, but it often becomes more noticeable during tasks that involve gripping, carrying, twisting, or bending the wrist.

You might feel it when you:

• Carry shopping bags or heavy objects
• Grip a golf club, racquet, tool, or gym weight
• Turn a door handle or twist open a jar
• Bend your wrist or rotate your forearm
• Shake someone’s hand
• Repeat the same arm or hand movements for long periods

Some people also notice stiffness or tightness through the forearm, along with a weaker grip than usual.

Treatment Options  

Treatment for golfer’s elbow follows a similar approach to tennis elbow. The goal is to calm the pain, rebuild tendon strength, and help your elbow cope better with the activities that matter to you.

Your treatment may include:

• Gradual strengthening exercises for the wrist, forearm, and grip
• Tendon-loading exercises to build tolerance over time
• Hands-on treatment to ease pain and improve movement
• Advice on which activities to adjust while symptoms settle
• Technique changes for sport, gym, or work-related tasks
• A step-by-step return-to-sport or return-to-work plan

 For more persistent cases, shockwave therapy may also be considered alongside a structured rehabilitation programme.

Key differences between tennis elbow and golfer's elbow  

While the two conditions are often confused, the location of the pain is usually the biggest clue.

• Tennis elbow: Pain on the outside of the elbow; affects the wrist extensor tendons often aggravated by lifting with the palm facing down; more commom
• Golfer's elbow: Pain on the inside of the elbow; affects the wrist flexor tendons, often aggravated by gripping and wrist bending; less common

When to seek help  

If your elbow pain has been lingering for several weeks, keeps returning when you become active, or is affecting your work, sport, or daily activities, it is worth getting it assessed.

Struggling with pain in your inner or outer elbow? Hein Viljoen Physiotherapy can help. Click here to book your appointment.

‍