Tennis elbow vs. golfer’s elbow: What’s really going on with your elbow pain?

You don’t need to be a tennis player or spend your weekends on the golf course to end up with elbow pain. In fact, Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow are both common overuse injuries that can affect just about anyone. If your day to day life involves lots of gripping, lifting, typing, or repetitive hand movements, your elbows are likely doing more work than you think.

What’s the Difference Between Tennis Elbow vs, Golfer’s Elbow?

It comes down to where it hurts

Tennis Elbow (known medically as lateral epicondylitis) causes pain on the outside of the elbow. It typically develops from overusing the muscles that extend your wrist or lift your hand, activities like typing for hours, using tools, or repetitive lifting. Over time, the tendons responsible for these movements can become irritated, inflamed, and painful due to repeated strain.

Golfer’s Elbow (know medically as medial epicondylitis), on the other hand, causes discomfort on the inside of the elbow. It affects the tendons that help with gripping, wrist flexion, and lifting movements with your palm facing up. You might feel it when carrying groceries, swinging a hammer, or lifting weights, anything that puts repeated stress on the flexor tendons.

Despite the names, these injuries are not limited to athletes only. We see them in builders, office workers, gym-goers, musicians, busy parents, you name it. The issue isn’t so much what you’re doing, but how often you’re doing it and whether your body is keeping up with the demand.

Common Causes of Elbow Pain:

• A sudden increase in activity, exercise load, or duration

• Poor movement technique or training with the wrong equipment

• Underlying muscle imbalances or general weakness in the forearm, wrist, or shoulder

Even something as simple as spending more time on holding a baby or switching up your gym routine without proper preparation can lead to irritation in the tendons and start a pain cycle.

Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For?

It usually starts off subtle, a dull ache or stiffness that comes and goes. But over time, it can progress to sharp, persistent pain, especially with everyday tasks. You might notice discomfort when lifting your coffee mug, turning a doorknob, typing on a keyboard, or even shaking hands. There may also be a sense of weakness or tightness through your forearm, and in some cases, a burning or radiating sensation down the arm.

These are not just small annoyances. They can start to limit how you move and affect your confidence in using your arm normally. That’s when it’s time to take it seriously.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Elbow Pain

Mild pain can be easy to brush off until it becomes something you can’t ignore. When left untreated, both Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow can develop into long-term, stubborn injuries that take much longer to recover from. The earlier you catch it, the easier it is to manage.

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is not quite right. If it’s sticking around or interfering with everyday tasks, don’t wait for it to "just go away".  Taking early action can help prevent further strain, reduce inflammation, and set you up for a much quicker recovery. Even small adjustments in how you move or work can make a big difference when guided by the right treatment approach.

How Physiotherapy Helps Elbow Injuries

This is where physiotherapy really makes a difference. At Physio K, we don’t just focus on easing the pain, we take a step back and look at the bigger picture. That means getting to know your daily routines, physical demands, and how your body moves to uncover the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Your recovery plan will be fully personalised to suit your needs and lifestyle. We begin with a comprehensive assessment to identify movement patterns or habits that may be putting excess strain on your elbow. From there, we’ll guide you through a structured, hands-on approach that may include:

• Manual therapy to ease stiffness and settle irritated tissues

• Strengthening exercises to build resilience in your muscles and tendons

• Stretching and mobility work to improve range of motion and reduce tension

• Practical strategies to modify daily tasks or training without stopping your activity

• Taping, dry needling, or prescription a brace when needed to support recovery

We’ll also provide you with easy, actionable advice to adjust your posture, set up your workspace better, or tweak your workout routine, helping you reduce strain and prevent future flare-ups.

Our goal is to not only help you feel better now but to empower you with the knowledge and tools to stay pain-free long-term.

Let’s get you back to doing what you love

Elbow pain can be incredibly frustrating, especially when it starts to affect your work, training, or day-to-day tasks. But the good news is, with the right guidance, these injuries are very treatable.

If you are experiencing ongoing pain in your elbow, whether it’s on the inside or outside, don’t wait for it to become a bigger problem. We are here to help you understand what’s going on, guide your recovery with a plan that makes sense for your life, and support you every step of the way.

Experiencing elbow pain?

Book an appointment with a physiotherapist in the Eastern Suburbs and start your recovery today.