Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer's Elbow: What Is the Difference — and How Is Each Treated?

Both cause elbow pain, but they affect different tendons and respond to different treatments. Learn how to tell them apart and how manual therapy and targeted exercise resolve each condition.

Despite their sport-specific names, tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are among the most common overuse injuries we see in Queens — and the vast majority of our patients have never held a racket or a golf club.

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis / Epicondylopathy)

Tennis elbow affects the lateral (outer) side of the elbow — specifically the tendons of the wrist extensor muscles. Repetitive extension against resistance gradually degrades the tendon.

• Pain location: Outer side of the elbow, sometimes radiating down the forearm.
• Aggravating activities: Shaking hands, lifting with the palm down, opening jars, using a keyboard or mouse.
• Tenderness: Directly over the lateral epicondyle (the bony bump on the outer elbow).
• Most common in: Ages 30 to 50; office workers, construction workers, musicians.

Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis / Epicondylopathy)

Golfer's elbow affects the medial (inner) side of the elbow, where the wrist flexor and forearm pronator tendons attach to the medial epicondyle.

• Pain location: Inner side of the elbow, sometimes radiating down the inner forearm.
• Aggravating activities: Gripping, wrist flexion, forearm pronation, throwing, pulling.
• Tenderness: Directly over the medial epicondyle (inner elbow bump).
• Most common in: Pitchers, golfers, weightlifters, rock climbers.

"Both conditions are actually tendon degeneration, not inflammation — which is why anti-inflammatory treatments alone rarely produce lasting relief, and why progressive loading through physical therapy is the gold standard."

How Physical Therapy Treats Both Conditions

1. Manual therapy: Soft tissue mobilization, IASTM, and joint mobilization reduce pain sensitivity and improve tissue quality.
2. Eccentric and heavy-slow resistance loading: The current gold standard for tendon rehabilitation.
3. Activity modification: We identify and modify specific activities driving the overload.
4. Neural mobilization: The ulnar nerve passes close to the medial epicondyle in golfer's elbow — nerve involvement is common.
5. Return to full activity: A progressive return plan ensures you do not re-injure the tendon.