What’s The Difference And How To Avoid The Pain
If your elbow’s starting to feel like it’s auditioning for a drama series, it might be tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow — two common but often confused conditions that can sideline even the keenest players. The bad news? You don’t need to be a pro athlete (or even a weekend warrior) to get these. The good news? Physiotherapy can help you keep your swing (or your work or your hobbies) pain-free. Call us on 6254 9889 to make an appointment. And in the meantime, let’s arm ourselves with knowledge about these common arm conditions!
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) causes pain on the outer part of the elbow. It results from overuse or repetitive strain of the wrist extensor muscles and tendons — the ones that help lift and twist your wrist. This condition causes tenderness and discomfort on the outside of the elbow, sometimes radiating down the forearm. You don’t have to play tennis to get tennis elbow. Gardening, typing, and even DIY tasks can overload these muscles.
What is golfer’s elbow?
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) affects the inner part of the elbow. It’s caused by strain of the wrist flexor muscles and tendons, which bend the wrist and fingers. Pain, stiffness, and tenderness on the inside of the elbow are the main signs.
Though golfers are prone to this injury, it can also develop from activities like throwing, weightlifting, or repetitive gripping
How are they different?
The key difference is where the pain occurs: tennis elbow hurts on the outside, golfer’s elbow on the inside. Both stem from repetitive stress but involve different muscles and tendons.
How can physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapists assess which muscles and tendons are affected and design personalised treatment plans. These often include hands-on therapy to reduce pain, exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles, and advice on modifying activities to prevent worsening. If you start noticing elbow discomfort during activities, early physiotherapy can prevent the problem from becoming chronic and help you return to your favourite hobbies quicker.
Call TM Physio on 6254 9889 to book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists — because ignoring elbow pain is not part of the game plan.
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