There are two main types of elbow pain that are related to the tendons of the elbow, and they both have country club sports associated with them. Golfer’s elbow, more specifically known as medial epicondylitis, is due to pain on the inside part of your elbow. Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is due to pain on the outside part of the elbow.

There are many what are known as differential diagnoses, so just because you have pain in these areas does not mean this is the diagnosis. Therefore, it’s important to be assessed to see exactly what you’re dealing with.

Not only is it important to assess the elbow, but similar focus needs to be applied to the wrist and the shoulder. The reason is simple: wrist movement stems from the muscles that start at the elbow, and that’s what really causes the pain. Conversely, when the shoulder isn’t moving properly, it can increase the strain placed on the elbow. The repetitive demands on the elbow will eventually leave you wincing every time you go for a cup of coffee or grab a wedge.

That’s why our exam doesn’t stop at the elbow. We test every joint and range of motion the golf swing depends on, from the ankles and hips through the thoracic spine, shoulders, and wrists. The body works a lot like a row of dominoes. One piece that’s only slightly out of line can knock the whole sequence off course a few pieces down. Limited rotation through the mid back or shoulder changes how the arm delivers the club, and the elbow ends up absorbing the difference. Finding that first domino is what keeps the pain from coming back after it’s treated.

Why is this particular injury assigned to golfers? Are they more at risk than a normal person?

Just like success in the golf swing starts before you ever take the club back, so does your risk for developing golfer’s elbow. A poor grip can put you more at risk, as well as applying too much pressure from your hands to the grip. Swing characteristics can also dictate the amount of pressure and strain applied to the elbow. Commonly, we see players who try to scoop the ball carry a disproportionate risk, but many other parts of the swing can eventually lead your elbow into our office.

The main cause tends to look different depending on who’s swinging the club. In amateur golfers, swing faults are usually the biggest factor. Scooping, a death grip, or catching the ground before the ball all send more force into the elbow than it should have to absorb. Professionals tend to have cleaner, more efficient swings, so their elbow pain more often comes from overuse: the sheer volume of balls hit day after day without enough recovery. Knowing which one you’re dealing with changes the plan. Amateurs may need to adjust swing faults alongside treatment and rehab.

Treatment options are varied. Manual therapies such as dry needling, Active Release Technique (ART), or Graston Technique can expedite the healing process, and they work best alongside loading the joint. Your provider can discuss the benefits of each and which is the best fit for your situation. This is a tendon issue, and tendons love load being applied to them. How to start and correctly do this is key. Given how often golfer’s elbow gets misdiagnosed by someone who’s never watched a golf swing, treating the injury and understanding the sport tend to go hand in hand.

Tendons are slow to heal. It’s usually weeks to months, and it doesn’t always go in a straight line. You might have a couple of good weeks and then feel it again after a long range session or a few rounds in a row. That’s normal with tendon injuries, but it’s also why we need to get the diagnosis right, figure out what caused it, and put together the right treatment and rehab plan. If we can get these things right, you give yourself the best chance at a faster recovery and minimize the likelihood of recurrence.