About Elbow Pain

Some common causes of elbow pain include:

Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

This is a repetitive, overuse injury that can be caused by excessive wrist extension and supination (turning the arm to palm facing up). Tennis is associated with this condition in <10% of all patients, however, about 50% of tennis players will develop it at some time when they are actively playing.

It can also be seen in people with new use of their wrist if previously sedentary and with certain occupations (handling tools, handling loads, working with vibrating machinery).

The hallmark sign of tennis elbow is pain at the lateral epicondyle and/or painful active wrist extension with or without painful active supination. It can also be provoked with passive wrist flexion with or without passive wrist pronation.

Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)

Golfer’s elbow is very similar to tennis elbow, with the only real difference being the location of pain and activities/motions that cause it.

Golfer’s elbow is characterized pain on the inside of the elbow. In some cases, pain radiating pain may be felt down the inside of the forearm while trying to grip an object. It can also be caused by a single violent jolt, but more often shows up as a result of repetitive overuse.

Golfer’s are susceptible to this injury, but risk also extends to other types of people, some not even athletes. Just the same as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow can show up in people with new use of their wrist if previously sedentary and with certain occupations (handling tools, handling loads, working with vibrating machinery).

Most commonly, we will see athletic injuries or overuse causing elbow pain. In these cases we do our best to narrow down the root cause of your elbow pain as it could potentially be referred pain from another structure that is injured.