Their respective sports separate tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, and while they have much in common, they’re two separate types of tendinitis, similar yet still distinct.
The team at Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic, with two locations in Jacksonville, can help regardless of the cause or location of your elbow problem. Let’s take a closer look at each disorder, their symptoms, and treatments.
Both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are tendon disorders. Tendons connect muscles to bones, tough cords of tissue that are nonetheless still vulnerable to damage from injury and overuse.
The tendon that’s usually at the source of tennis elbow is the exterior carpi radialis brevis. It suffers micro tears through some of the motions related to playing tennis, and it also emerges from activities not related to racquet sports, such as:
Common symptoms of tennis elbow include aching, discomfort, or pain along the outside of your elbow. Pain may get worse with time, and symptoms may progress down your forearm to the wrist and hand. Your grip strength may weaken, and lifting small objects may result in a stab of pain.
The common flexor tendon on the inner side of your elbow is the usual tendon that creates golfer’s elbow symptoms. Pain on the inside of your elbow that’s at its worst when you wake is a typical first sign of the condition.
Causes of golfer’s elbow include:
People with diabetes and obesity are more likely to develop golfer’s elbow, as are those who smoke. Signs of a golfer’s elbow include pain in the elbow, forearm, and wrist or numbness and tingling through the same area. You may feel weakness in your grip, and it could hurt when you make a fist.
Treatments for each kind of epicondylitis are the same, though you may target ice packs and topical treatments in different locations. The most important consideration is discontinuing the activities that aggravate your pain. You may need to take a four to six-week break for your elbow to improve.
Other home care includes:
Both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow can develop into serious, chronic conditions without treatment. If home care methods don’t provide you with pain-free recovery, contact Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic at the nearest of our two Jacksonville, Florida locations.
Call our nearest office directly or request an appointment using the booking link on this page. Your recovery starts now, so plan your visit today.
