What is the difference between Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow?
What is the difference between Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow?
We see people coming into our office on a weekly basis with elbow pain that has not been diagnosed. People often ask about what the difference is between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.
Tennis elbow is inflammation on the outside of the elbow. Lateral tendonopathy is the medical that refers to it . Golfer’s elbow is inflammation on the inside of the elbow, also referred to as medial tendonopathy. Both of these conditions are an overuse injury of the tendons that attach to the elbow. Contrary to the name they are not just caused by playing tennis or golf.
Overuse can come from an array of activities and most of them are repetitive in nature.
These activities can cause tendinopathy in elbow
- Typing/computer use
- Heavy lifting and manual work
- Gripping action with tennis racquet or golf club
- Long drives, gripping the steering wheel
Symptoms you may experience:
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow produces pain on the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist, with the outside of the elbow being tender to touch.With tennis elbow the tendon that extends the wrist and spreads the fingers out wide is inflamed so these actions will be painful to perform.
Golfer’s Elbow
Golfer’s elbow produces pain on the inside of the elbow and radiates into the forearm and wrist. This problem can be accompanied by tingling in the hand. The inside of the elbow will be tender to touch with golfer’s elbow.
The tendon that flexes the wrist and contracts the fingers are inflamed so these actions will be hard or painful to perform If either of these conditions are left untreated this can create a shortening or hardening of the tendon leading to a change in function.
If you are watching this video and suffering from elbow pain similar to what we have discussed today feel free to contact us.
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Britt and Lisa, chiropractors
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