Sports Injuries
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7 min read
Golfer's Elbow vs Tennis Elbow: Inner or Outer Elbow Pain?
Written by
Harry Whitaker
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- 01Tennis elbow causes pain on the outer elbow; golfer's elbow causes pain on the inner elbow.
- 02The medical terms are lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis.
- 03Both can involve load-sensitive tendons, but the label or pain location alone cannot establish the cause or severity.
- 04Location is a clue, not a diagnosis. Nerve irritation, joint problems and referred pain can mimic both.
- 05Modify load rather than stopping everything, and build forearm and shoulder strength progressively.
- 06Use urgent care for injury with severe pain, deformity, numbness or tingling; arrange review for persistent symptoms.
CATEGORY
Sports Injuries
PUBLISHED
READING TIME
7 min read
01
Elbow pain that appears when you grip, lift or swing is often labelled either golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow. The two names sound like they belong to different sports, and to some extent they do, but the underlying story is similar: a tendon at the elbow is being asked to do more than it is currently conditioned for. What differs most obviously is the side of the elbow that hurts.
Both conditions are problems at the point where the forearm muscles attach to the bony bumps on either side of the elbow. Those attachment points are called epicondyles, which is why the medical names follow the same pattern: tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis, and golfer’s elbow is medial epicondylitis.
The word “itis” suggests inflammation, and that is how these problems are often described in everyday language. In practice, the picture is usually more about cumulative overload of the tendon and the surrounding tissue than a single inflammatory event. That matters for management, because it explains why simply resting until the pain disappears and then returning to the same load often leads straight back to the same symptoms.
Neither problem is exclusive to sport. Repetitive gripping, lifting, carrying and twisting at work or at home can load the same tissues. Plenty of people with tennis elbow have never held a racket, and plenty with golfer’s elbow do not play golf.
Photograph: Stephanie Allen / Pexels. Stock images are illustrative and do not show Motion Works staff or patients. General education only, not personal diagnosis or an exercise prescription.
02
The simplest way to orientate yourself is by location. Tennis elbow causes pain on the outer side of the elbow, and golfer’s elbow causes pain on the inner side. The table below sets out the broad pattern.
Feature | Tennis elbow | Golfer’s elbow |
|---|---|---|
Other name | Lateral epicondylitis | Medial epicondylitis |
Side of the elbow | Outside (lateral) | Inside (medial) |
Main area of tenderness | The bony point on the outer elbow | The bony point on the inner elbow |
Aggravating pattern | Gripping, lifting and repetitive forearm use | Gripping, lifting and repetitive forearm use |
Sporting associations | Racket sports and other grip-heavy activity | Golf and other grip-heavy activity |
Pain does not always stay neatly in one spot. It can spread down the forearm, feel like a deep ache at rest, or catch sharply when you make a fist, open a jar or pick up a bag. Two people with the same label can describe quite different irritability.
03
Knowing which side of the elbow is sore is a useful starting point, but it is not a diagnosis. Several structures sit close together around the elbow, and pain from one area can be felt in another. On the inner side, irritation of the ulnar nerve can produce pain and tingling that overlaps with golfer’s elbow symptoms. The elbow joint itself, the neck, and the shoulder can all refer symptoms into the region.
A proper assessment looks at how the symptoms began, which loads aggravate and ease them, what your working and sporting week looks like, and what examination reproduces the pain. That is more informative than the location of the tender spot on its own. Imaging is not usually needed for a typical presentation, and the NHS provides useful public-facing background on tennis elbow and how it is managed.
For reference, see the NHS information on tennis elbow and the NHS guidance on elbow and arm pain. Golfer’s elbow follows broadly similar load-management principles, even though the tender point is on the opposite side.
04
Rather than looking for one culprit, it helps to look at the total amount of gripping and forearm work in a week. Symptoms often appear when several demands stack up together, such as a busy period at work alongside more practice or DIY than usual.
Golf: grip pressure, time on the range, hitting off firmer lies, carrying clubs, and changes to swing or equipment can all alter load through the forearm.
Racket sports: repeated hitting, especially with a late or heavy contact, plus grip size and string tension.
Work and home: mouse and keyboard use, tool use, lifting, gardening, carrying shopping or children, and lots of twisting tasks such as opening jars.
Training: pulling movements, heavy carries, and grip-intensive strength work.
In golf, both inner and outer elbow symptoms turn up, and the swing itself is only part of the picture. How much you practise, how firmly you hold the club, how often you play and what else your hands and forearms do during the week all contribute to the load the tendon has to tolerate.
05
The aim is rarely complete rest. Tendons respond to load, and the goal is to find a level of activity that keeps you moving without repeatedly flaring the elbow. That usually means adjusting the dose rather than stopping everything.
Practical steps include reducing the volume or frequency of the most aggravating task for a period, spreading demanding sessions further apart, and breaking up long bouts of gripping or mouse work. Simple grip changes help some people: relaxing your hold on the club or racket, using a thicker handle where possible, and carrying loads with two hands or with the forearm supported rather than dangling.
Progressive forearm, wrist and shoulder exercise may form part of rehabilitation after assessment. The exercise type, load and progression should reflect your symptoms and goals. Isometric holds or slow resistance exercises are options, not guaranteed pain relief; reduce or stop work that causes sharp, increasing or persistent symptoms and seek advice when unsure.
There is no guaranteed timeline, and recovery is often uneven. Flare-ups after a busy week are common and usually settle with a short step back in load rather than a full stop.
06
Many elbow symptoms can improve with changes to aggravating activity, but persistent pain needs review. NHS tennis-elbow guidance advises seeing a GP if pain persists after at least two weeks of rest and self-care. Swelling, locking, repeated giving way or symptoms affecting sleep also warrant assessment.
Assessment is reasonable when you are unsure whether pain is coming from a tendon or when it affects work, sleep or sport. Motion Works offers golf and sports assessments; ask what assessment may be appropriate for your symptoms and goals.
Clinical source: NHS elbow and arm pain: urgent and emergency advice
Call 999 for sudden arm pain with pressure, heaviness or squeezing across the chest. Contact NHS 111 for a swollen arm with fever or feeling hot, cold or shivery, or arm pain brought on by exercise that eases with rest. Severe pain with difficulty moving, a snap or changed shape after injury, or tingling or numbness needs an urgent treatment centre or A&E rather than a routine clinic appointment.
Clinical source: NHS back pain: self-care and emergency symptoms
Find out more: golf assessment · book an assessment · contact the clinic
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I have golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow at the same time?
Yes. The two tendon attachment points are on opposite sides of the same elbow, and a demanding week of gripping and lifting can irritate both. It is also possible to have one clear problem with pain spreading around the joint, which is one reason an examination is more useful than matching symptoms to a chart.
Do I need to stop playing golf completely?
Not necessarily. Many golfers manage better by reducing range time, shortening practice sessions, easing grip pressure and spacing rounds further apart while strength work builds tolerance. Complete rest is rarely required for a tendon problem, though a short period of reduced load can help settle a sharp flare.
How long does elbow pain usually take to settle?
There is no fixed timeline. Some people notice clear improvement within a few weeks of sensible load management, while others need longer and have ups and downs along the way. Progress is usually judged by what you can do week to week rather than by a set date on the calendar.
Should I stretch my elbow or strengthen it?
Strength work is generally the priority for tendon-related elbow pain, built up gradually over time. Stretching can feel soothing in the short term but does not on its own build the tolerance the tendon needs. If a stretch reliably flares your symptoms, it is reasonable to leave it out and focus on controlled loading instead.
When should I get my elbow looked at?
Seek urgent help for the warning symptoms described above rather than waiting for a routine clinic appointment. For persistent elbow pain or symptoms affecting normal activities, arrange a GP or suitable clinical review.
This article is general education and not personal medical advice. If your elbow pain is worsening, follows an injury, or comes with numbness or weakness, seek an assessment from a suitably qualified clinician.
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