Tennis Elbow vs Golfer’s Elbow: Understanding the Difference

Elbow pain can make even the simplest daily activities challenging. Turning a door handle, lifting a shopping bag, typing on a keyboard or pouring a cup of tea can become uncomfortable when the tendons around the elbow are injured.

Two of the most common causes of elbow pain are tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. Although their names suggest they only affect athletes, the reality is very different. In fact, most people diagnosed with these conditions have never played either sport.

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylopathy, affects the tendons attached to the outer part of the elbow. These tendons help extend the wrist and fingers during everyday activities.

The condition develops when repetitive stress places excessive load on the tendon over time. Rather than being a simple inflammatory problem, current research shows that tennis elbow is primarily a tendon degeneration condition, where the tendon’s normal repair process becomes disrupted.

Despite its name, around 90 to 95 per cent of people with tennis elbow do not play tennis.

What Is Golfer's Elbow?

Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylopathy, affects the tendons attached to the inner side of the elbow. These tendons are responsible for bending the wrist and fingers and helping with gripping activities.

Like tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow usually develops gradually because of repeated strain rather than a single injury. Although it is commonly associated with golf, it can affect anyone who regularly performs repetitive gripping, lifting or wrist movements.

Both conditions are examples of elbow tendon injuries, but they occur on opposite sides of the elbow.

Tennis Elbow vs Golfer's Elbow: What Is the Difference?

The main difference lies in the location of the affected tendon.

Tennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow causes pain on the inside. The movements that trigger symptoms also differ because different muscle groups are involved.

People with tennis elbow often experience discomfort when lifting objects, shaking hands, turning keys or extending the wrist.

People with golfer’s elbow are more likely to notice pain when gripping, carrying heavy objects, flexing the wrist or making a tight fist.

Although the location of pain is different, both conditions can reduce grip strength and interfere with work, sport and daily activities.

What Causes These Conditions?

Neither tennis elbow nor golfer’s elbow develops overnight. Instead, they usually result from repeated stress that exceeds the tendon’s ability to recover.

Common causes include:

• Repetitive lifting
• Frequent computer mouse use
• Manual labour
• Racquet sports
• Golf
• Gardening
• Plumbing, carpentry and painting
• Weight training with poor technique
• Repeated gripping activities

Age also plays a role. Tennis elbow is most frequently seen between the ages of 35 and 54, when tendons naturally become less resilient and slower to repair.

Recognising the Symptoms

Although the symptoms are often similar, the location of pain usually helps distinguish one condition from the other.

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

People with tennis elbow commonly experience:

• Pain on the outer side of the elbow
• Reduced grip strength
• Pain when lifting objects
• Discomfort while turning a key or opening a jar
• Tenderness over the outer elbow

Symptoms often develop gradually and may become more noticeable after repetitive activity.

Symptoms of Golfer’s Elbow

Golfer’s elbow typically presents with:

• Pain on the inner side of the elbow
• Tenderness along the inner tendon
• Pain during gripping or wrist bending
• Stiffness around the elbow
• Occasionally tingling into the ring and little fingers if the nearby nerve becomes irritated

Because several elbow conditions can produce similar symptoms, a thorough assessment is important before beginning treatment.

Tennis and Golfer's Elbow Treatment

The good news is that most people improve without surgery.

Treatment focuses on reducing tendon stress, restoring strength and promoting healthy tendon adaptation rather than simply masking pain. 

Management may include:

Activity Modification: Temporary changes to repetitive activities allow the injured tendon time to recover while avoiding further overload.

Physiotherapy: Exercise based rehabilitation is considered one of the most effective treatments for tendon related elbow pain.

A physiotherapy programme may include:

• Progressive strengthening exercises
• Stretching
• Grip training
• Movement correction
• Gradual return to activity

Loading the tendon appropriately is an important part of stimulating healthy tendon adaptation.

Pain Management: Depending on the individual, short term pain management strategies may be recommended to improve comfort and enable participation in rehabilitation.

These should always form part of a broader treatment plan rather than being the only intervention.

Regenerative Therapies: For selected individuals with persistent symptoms that do not respond to conservative care, regenerative approaches such as platelet rich plasma or growth factor based therapies may be considered after clinical assessment.

Current evidence suggests that selected regenerative therapies may provide benefit for some individuals with persistent tendinopathy, although evidence continues to evolve and these treatments are not suitable for every patient. 

Can Surgery Be Avoided?

In many cases, yes.

Most patients with tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow improve with appropriate conservative treatment, although recovery may take several months. Tendons generally recover more slowly than muscles because they have a relatively limited blood supply. 

Patience, consistency and a structured rehabilitation programme often produce better long term results than attempting to return to full activity too quickly.

Surgery is generally reserved for individuals who continue to experience significant symptoms despite an adequate trial of well supervised non-surgical treatment.

Preventing Future Elbow Pain

Reducing the risk of recurrence is just as important as treating the initial injury.

Helpful strategies include:

• Improving lifting technique
• Strengthening the forearm muscles
• Taking regular breaks during repetitive work
• Using appropriate sports equipment
• Warming up before exercise
• Gradually increasing training intensity
• Maintaining good shoulder and wrist mobility

Addressing these factors can reduce tendon overload and improve long-term elbow function.

Conclusion

Although tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are often confused, they are distinct conditions affecting different tendons around the elbow. Both develop primarily because of repetitive tendon overload rather than acute injury and both can interfere with daily life if left untreated.

Fortunately, most people recover successfully with accurate diagnosis, appropriate rehabilitation and gradual return to activity. Early assessment can help identify the underlying cause of elbow pain and ensure that treatment is tailored to the individual’s needs.

At Mitogenez Longevity, we believe that understanding the science behind tendon health allows for more informed decisions and better long-term outcomes. By focusing on movement, function and evidence-based care, it is often possible to relieve symptoms, restore comfortable movement and support lasting recovery without unnecessary interventions.

Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. If you have persistent elbow pain or other symptoms, consult a qualified healthcare professional for an appropriate assessment.