Elbow pain can make everyday tasks like gripping, lifting, or even typing uncomfortable and frustrating. Whether your pain is caused by repetitive strain, overuse, or improper mechanics, golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow can limit your strength and function.
Discover how you can relieve pain, restore mobility, and get back to doing what you love without invasive treatments. Schedule a consultation today with one of our expert sports medicine physicians at Hughes Health and take your first step toward relief!
About Golfer's & Tennis Elbow
& Anatomy That Contributes
Your elbow is a complex joint that relies on the coordination of muscles, tendons, and ligaments to function properly. Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) affects the tendons on the inner side of the elbow, while tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) affects the tendons on the outer side.
Golfer’s elbow affects the flexor tendons that attach to the medial epicondyle, the bony bump on the inside of the elbow. These tendons are responsible for flexing the wrist and fingers, as well as stabilizing grip strength. The primary muscles involved include the flexor carpi radialis, pronator teres, and palmaris longus. Repetitive strain, gripping, and wrist flexion overload these tendons, leading to microtears, inflammation, and pain along the inner forearm.
Tennis elbow affects the extensor tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle, the bony bump on the outer side of the elbow. These tendons control wrist and finger extension and help stabilize the forearm during movements like lifting and gripping. The primary muscles involved include the extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor digitorum, and extensor carpi ulnaris. Repetitive overuse of these muscles, especially during activities requiring wrist extension and forearm rotation, can cause small tears and inflammation, leading to persistent pain and weakness.
As you can see, both conditions develop due to repetitive stress that causes irritation, inflammation, or small tears in the tendons. While these conditions are commonly associated with sports, they can also occur from everyday activities like typing, lifting, or using tools. Addressing the underlying cause of tendon strain is key to lasting relief.
Common Causes of Golfer's & Tennis Elbow
Understanding Why It Happens
Elbow tendon pain can result from:
• Repetitive Motions: Activities that involve gripping, swinging, or twisting (e.g., golf, tennis, weightlifting, or even painting) can overwork the tendons.
• Improper Technique & Mechanics: Poor form in sports, exercise, or work tasks can create excessive strain on the elbow tendons.
• Overuse & Strain: Repeating the same motion over time without proper recovery can weaken and inflame the tendons.
• Weak Wrist & Forearm Muscles: When supporting muscles lack strength, the tendons take on extra stress, leading to overuse injuries.
• Age-Related Changes: As we age, the tendons naturally lose elasticity, making them more susceptible to irritation and small tears.
Common Conditions Related to Golfer's & Tennis Elbow
Elbow tendon injuries are often linked to other conditions, such as:
Tendonitis & Tendinosis: Inflammation or degeneration of the tendons in the forearm.
Nerve Entrapment (Radial or Ulnar Nerve Issues): Nerve irritation near the elbow can contribute to pain, tingling, or weakness.
Wrist & Hand Dysfunction: Stiffness or weakness in the wrist can increase strain on the elbow.
Shoulder Instability or Weakness: Weakness in the shoulder muscles can alter movement patterns, increasing stress on the elbow.
Arthritis in the Elbow Joint: Joint inflammation can lead to stiffness, pain, and reduced function.
Treatments for Golfer's Elbow & Tennis Elbow
Find Relief Once & For All For Your Golfers Elbow & Tennis Elbow Pain in Westerville, OH
Before we are able to treat your Golfer's elbow or Tennis elbow at Hughes Health, we must perform a detailed consultation and examination. We start with a one-on-one consultation where our doctors truly listen. We want to understand how your elbow pain is affecting your life, whether it's keeping you from working, exercising, or simply enjoying time with family. This conversation helps us gather key details that point us toward the root cause of your pain.
In the examination, we assess your movement, muscles, ligaments, and joints using orthopedic and functional movement testing, typically used at the elite and professional athletic level. Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something isn’t working right. Our job is to find out why and help you understand. Once we pinpoint the cause, we create a personalized treatment plan to restore function and get you back to living pain-free without unnecessary medications or surgery.
PiezoWave Focused Shockwave Therapy: Break Through Stubborn Pain
For chronic Golfer's Elbow and Tennis Elbow pain, studies have shown PiezoWave Shockwave Therapy resulted in 77% improvement alone by using focused and targeted sound waves to:
Break up scar tissue and adhesions
Increase blood flow for faster healing
Stimulate natural tissue repair without surgery or downtime
Deep Tissue Class IV Laser Therapy: Heal from the Inside Out
Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser uses light therapy to reduce pain and inflammation at the cellular level. This advanced treatment:
Boosts your body’s natural healing process
Reduces pain and inflammation in just 5-10 minutes
Feels like a gentle, warming sensation with no discomfort
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy: Digging Deep
At Hughes Health, we specialize in a wide variety of techniques to address the soft tissue causes of the pain.
Dry Needling: This targets tight or dysfunctional muscles by inserting small acupuncture needles into specific muscles and their trigger points to release tension and promote muscle recovery.
Fire Cupping: Using heated cups to create a suction effect on the skin helps increase blood flow to relieve muscle tightness and reduce pain. This warming effect has been shown to be more effective than the dry suction counterpart.
Graston Technique: Using specialized tools, we gently break up adhesions in your muscles and tendons, improving mobility and encouraging proper tissue healing.
Myofascial Release: Active Release Technique (ART), also known as manual trigger point release, takes your muscles through dynamic movement to release tension and alleviate pain at its source.
Sport Rehab and Custom Exercises: Build Strength, Prevent Injury
Pain relief is just the first step. Staying pain-free while moving and grooving is the goal. Our Custom Therapeutic Exercise Programs help you:
Strengthen muscles and improve mobility
Fix imbalances that cause recurring pain
Get back to doing what you love with confidence
The Right Care, Every Time: Adaptable for You
At Hughes Health, your recovery comes first. While we specialize in non-invasive, non-surgical sports medicine and movement dysfunctions, we also know when you need more. If our exam reveals that additional care is necessary, we’ll connect you with our trusted network of physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and pain specialists. No guesswork, no wasted time! The right plan for the best results is a click away.
Your health is our priority. Let’s get you on the path to recovery today!
Why Choose
Hughes Health?
We take pride in providing evidence-based non-invasive approaches to healthcare. Our goal is to identify the root cause of your discomfort and pain to then provide effective and personalized treatment plans to help you achieve long-lasting results. If you're experiencing any of the conditions listed above, don't hesitate to contact us.