Tennis Elbow / Golfer’s Elbow

What is Tennis Elbow / Golfer’s Elbow?

→ Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are conditions characterized by pain and inflammation around the elbow joint due to overuse of forearm muscles. Tennis elbow affects the outer (lateral) side of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow affects the inner (medial) side. These conditions occur due to repetitive strain or micro-tears in the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the elbow, leading to pain and reduced grip strength.

Causes

→ Repetitive wrist and arm movements

→ Overuse of forearm muscles

→ Sports activities (tennis, golf, badminton)

→ Improper technique during activities

→ Occupational strain (typing, manual work)

→ Lifting heavy objects incorrectly

Symptoms

→ Pain around elbow (outer side in tennis elbow, inner side in golfer’s elbow)

→ Weak grip strength

→ Pain while lifting or gripping objects

→ Stiffness in elbow

→ Pain radiating to forearm

→ Difficulty in daily activities

Diagnosis

→ Clinical examination by doctor

→ Assessment of pain location and movement

→ Cozen’s test / Mill’s test (for tennis elbow)

→ Golfer’s elbow test

→ X-ray / MRI (to rule out other conditions)

Treatment Management

→ Rest and activity modification

→ Physiotherapy (stretching and strengthening exercises)

→ Ice therapy

→ Use of elbow brace or strap

→ Pain relief medications

→ Ultrasound therapy

→ Corticosteroid injections (in severe cases)

→ Surgery (rare cases)