Golfers Elbow Vs Tennis Elbow

What Is Golfer’s Elbow?

A form of tendonitis, golfer’s elbow causes pain and inflammation in the tendons which connect the forearm to the elbow. The pain will center around the bony bump on the inside of your elbow and may also be felt in the forearm. The medical term for golfer’s elbow is medial epicondylitis.

While golfer’s elbow isn’t as well known as tennis elbow, the two lingering injuries do share some similarities. Both are forms of elbow tendonitis. Yet, tennis elbow stems from damage to tendons on the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow occurs on the inside. Both ailments tend to get better with rest, according to WebMD.

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow is a condition that results in pain on the outer edge of your elbow. It typically flares up when you hurt the tendons that connect the elbow to forearm muscles. This pain will radiate throughout your arm, all the way from the elbow to the wrist. Without receiving any treatment, you may feel pain doing the simplest of tasks, such as driving.

What Causes Golfer’s Elbow?

Pain associated with golfer’s elbow can either happen instantly or slowly over time.

You may have golfer’s elbow if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

• Elbow stiffness.
• Pain and tenderness on the inside of your elbow and forearm.
• Pain caused by certain movements, such as making a fist.
• Hand and wrist weakness.
• Numbness or tingling sensations in your fingers.

This ailment is usually caused by overusing muscles in your forearm. These muscles are engaged to grip, flex and rotate your wrist. Repeating these motions can cause pulls or tears in the tendons. This means you do not have to be a golfer to suffer from golfer’s elbow.

Some common causes of golfer’s elbow include:

• Repetitive movements.
• Weight training.
• Playing sports that rely on constant throwing motions.

What Causes Tennis Elbow?

Lateral epicondylitis is the technical name for “tennis elbow.” This condition does impact individuals who do not play tennis. The pain is caused by overuse and doing the same activity/motion over and over again. Repetitive motions create tiny tears in the tendon, resulting in pain. Individuals can develop tennis elbow doing these activities:

• Playing tennis.
• Painting.
• Gardening.
• Using a screwdriver.

Any other racket sports like squash and racquetball can cause tennis elbow. Using the wrong size of equipment can also be responsible for this condition.

Diagnosing Tennis Elbow

In order to diagnose tennis elbow properly, an orthopedic specialist will evaluate the symptoms while examining your forearm and elbow.

You may require further imaging tests to assess the damage, which includes:

• MRI.
• CT Scan.
• X-ray.
• Musculoskeletal ultrasound.

How Long Does It Take For Tennis Elbow To Heal?

While several factors play a role in how long tennis elbow pain lasts, the tendon typically heals over a period of six months to one year. In some cases, tennis elbow has been known to persist for two-plus years.

You may need to take some preventative steps to ensure the pain doesn’t flare up again. Always warm up properly before playing tennis, giving your tendon time to stretch and become limber. Apply ice as soon as you are done playing the sport.

Signs You Should See A Doctor For Elbow Pain

Typically, tennis elbow can be cured over time with rest and at-home care. However, you should consider seeing a doctor if your symptoms persist. A doctor can then confirm your pain is the result of tennis elbow and nothing more. Sometimes, a steroid shot can reduce inflammation and increase healing time.

Check with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Your pain worsens.
• There are deformities, such as bumps near your elbow.
• Your elbow feels warmer to the touch than the rest of your arm.
• You have trouble moving your arm.
• Your elbow appears to be a different color than the rest of your arm.