Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer’s Elbow: What You Need to Know as an Active Adult
If you play racquet sports, golf, or spend time in the gym lifting weights, chances are you’ve felt some form of elbow pain. Two of the most common injuries we see at our clinic are tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. While they sound similar, they affect different areas of the elbow and require slightly different approaches for pain relief and long-term recovery.
As a fitness forward physical therapist in Minneapolis, we often help athletes and active adults understand the difference between these conditions so they can return to training, competing, and enjoying their sport with confidence.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is pain on the outside of the elbow, where the forearm extensor muscles attach. It’s commonly caused by repetitive gripping or wrist extension—movements you’ll find in racquet sports like tennis, pickleball, or squash, as well as in weightlifting when gripping barbells or dumbbells.
Symptoms of tennis elbow may include:
• Pain or burning on the outside of the elbow
• Grip weakness (struggling to hold a racquet or barbell)
• Pain when lifting, shaking hands, or turning a doorknob
What is Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) is pain on the inside of the elbow, where the forearm flexor muscles attach. Despite the name, it’s not just golfers who struggle with this—weightlifters, baseball players, and even racquet sport athletes can develop it from repeated wrist flexion or strong gripping.
Symptoms of golfer’s elbow may include:
• Pain or tenderness on the inside of the elbow (pinky side)
• Stiffness or weakness in the wrist and forearm
• Pain with gripping, throwing, or lifting as well (tricky!)
Key Differences Between Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
Feature Tennis Elbow Golfer’s Elbow
Location of pain Outside of elbow Inside of elbow
Muscles involved Forearm extensors Forearm flexors
Common triggers Racquet sports, typing, heavy lifting Golf, baseball, weightlifting, climbing
How Physical Therapy Helps Elbow Pain
Whether you’re dealing with tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, the right treatment can make the difference between weeks of frustration and a strong, lasting recovery. At our Minneapolis clinic, we take a physical therapy first approach that includes:
• Load tolerance training: Gradually strengthening the forearm and grip muscles so they can handle sport-specific demands.
• Manual therapy: Hands-on techniques to reduce pain and restore mobility.
• Exercise programming: A fitness forward plan tailored to your sport—whether that’s squats and deadlifts in the gym, a round of golf, or a weekend tennis match.
• Pain relief strategies: Education on activity modification, bracing, or recovery tools to support healing without forcing you to stop training completely.
When to See a Physical Therapist for Elbow Pain
If your elbow pain lasts more than a couple of weeks, limits your grip strength, or keeps you from playing your sport, it’s time to get it checked. Our physical therapists in Minneapolis can help you identify whether it’s tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, or another source of elbow pain, and then create a personalized plan to get you back on the court, course, or weight room.
Both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are common overuse injuries, but they affect different sides of the elbow and require a targeted recovery approach. With physical therapy for elbow pain, you don’t have to choose between pain relief and staying active—you can train smarter, recover fully, and get back to the activities you love. That is what our Twin Cities physical therapy team specializes in!
