Q. What is the difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow?

A. Both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are very common ailments. Golfers can get tennis elbow and vice versa. Even those who have never picked up a racquet or a club can develop these conditions. 

Basically they are a type of tendinitis that occurs on the outer lateral (tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis) or inner medial (golfer’s elbow or medial epicondylitis) side of the elbow. Both usually happen as an “overuse injury”.

Overuse injuries are usually related to repetitive cumulative microtrauma rather than a sudden single acute injury. With both injuries, technical factors are often an issue such as a late or improper backhand in tennis, or improper wrist rotation with the golf swing.

Training errors can be the culprit. Any sudden change in intensity, duration or frequency of training can cause overuse type problems. Treatment usually involves a brief layoff from the activity and “RICE” (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). Advil, Aleve or other NSAID’s help reduce pain and inflammation. Cortisone injections are sometimes utilized.

Physical therapy is helpful to learn preventive stretching and strengthening exercises so that recurrence is less likely. Rarely is surgery needed. There are some newer minimal incisions surgery techniques and even some non-surgical treatments using ultrasonic type sound waves.

Return to sports should be gradual and it is always worth taking a lesson with a teaching pro to correct technical problems that are the likely culprit. Elbow bands or supports can be helpful especially for return to activity.