Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow: Overcoming Strain with Treatment
You do not need to be a professional athlete or spend your weekends on the court to experience the frustrating ache of Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow. In fact, many of the patients we see at Westside Physiotherapy & Acupuncture develop these repetitive strain injuries from everyday activities like typing at a desk, gardening, painting, or heavy lifting.
When your elbows are constantly aching, your first instinct might be to stop moving entirely. However, completely resting a painful tendon rarely solves the underlying problem. Instead, targeted exercise prescription, shockwave therapy, and hands-on treatment are often the most effective ways to rebuild tendon capacity, improve your grip strength, and help you get back to your daily routines with greater comfort.
What is the Difference: Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow
While both conditions fall under the umbrella of Tendonitis, they are distinctly different repetitive strain injuries. They develop gradually over time due to repeated tissue overload, but they affect entirely different sides of the joint.
Here is a quick breakdown of how to tell them apart:
| Feature | Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) | Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) |
| Location of Discomfort | Outer bump of the elbow. | Inner bump of the elbow. |
| Affected Muscles | Forearm extensors (muscles that bend your wrist backward). | Forearm flexors (muscles that bend your wrist forward). |
| Common Triggers | Gripping, lifting with palms down, typing, backhand racket swings. | Gripping, lifting with palms up, carrying heavy bags, golf swings. |
| Everyday Symptoms | Difficulty pouring a jug of water or turning a doorknob. | Weakness when squeezing a fist or shaking hands. |
Why Rest Alone is Not Enough
When you sustain a repetitive strain injury, the structural integrity of your tendon changes. If you simply rest, the pain might temporarily subside, but the tendon itself does not rebuild the strength it needs to handle your daily tasks. As soon as you return to your normal activities, the discomfort often flares right back up.
According to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, tendons respond best to structured, progressive loading. This means applying the right amount of stress to the tendon to stimulate healing without aggravating the tissue.
Rebuilding Tendons for Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow
This is where a personalized exercise prescription becomes crucial in managing Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow. At Westside Physiotherapy, we do not just hand you a generic sheet of stretches. We design a specific, dosed plan of movement tailored to your current capacity.
One of the most effective techniques we use for tendinopathies is called eccentric loading.
An eccentric exercise focuses on lengthening the muscle while it is under tension. For example, if you are treating tennis elbow, you might use your healthy hand to lift a light weight upward, and then use your affected hand to slowly control the lowering phase of the weight. This controlled lengthening helps to lay down new, healthy collagen fibers, gradually increasing the tendon’s resilience over time.
Quick Q&A: Managing Elbow Pain
Tendons have a slower blood supply than muscles, so they require patience. While some patients notice improvements in a few weeks, true tendon remodeling through targeted treatment can take several months of consistent effort.
Not necessarily! Complete rest is rarely the goal. Your physiotherapist will work with you to modify your activities—such as adjusting your grip, reducing your play time, or using a brace—so you can stay active while minimizing the risk of further overload.
Ice and over-the-counter medications can be helpful for temporary symptom management, especially if the area is acutely irritated. However, they do not address the root cause of the weakness. Physiotherapy and guided exercise are what actively support rebuilding the tissue.
Start Your Recovery Journey Today
Elbow pain can make the simplest tasks feel incredibly daunting, but you do not have to just “live with it.” By committing to a structured, individualized treatment plan, you can actively support your healing and help restore your arm’s functional strength.
If you are dealing with the nagging ache of Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow, book an assessment with our experienced team today. We will help you understand your injury and guide you through the exact movements needed to kickstart your rehabilitation.
