Elbow pain has a sneaky way of slowing life down.
Lifting a grocery bag… swinging a golf club… even grabbing your morning coffee can feel way harder than it should.
Most people hear names like golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow and think they’re only for athletes...but nope.
These problems can happen to anyone.
The tricky part? These elbow problems look simple… but the real cause usually isn’t.
When we connect the dots across the whole upper body (not just the elbow), we begin to see why the pain sticks around, and how to finally get rid of it for good.
What Is Golfer’s Elbow? What Is Tennis Elbow?
Both fall under a group of issues called tendinopathies. A fancy word meaning the tendon can’t handle the amount of stress being placed on it.
Golfer’s Elbow
(also known as medial epicondylitis)
- Pain on the inside of the elbow
- Happens with a lot of gripping, wrist flexing, or twisting the arm
- Common with lifting weights, picking up kids, using tools, or swinging a club
Tennis Elbow
(also known as lateral epicondylitis)
- Pain on the outside of the elbow
- Triggered by gripping and wrist extension
- Typing, opening jars, shaking hands, lifting things palm-down — all tough with this one
Different sides of the elbow… but very similar stress and breakdown.
What’s Going on Inside the Elbow?
Golfer’s Elbow Anatomy (Inside of the Elbow)
- Involves the common flexor tendon
- These muscles bend the wrist and help you turn your palm down
- Too much gripping makes the tendon angry at the medial epicondyle (inside bump of the elbow)
Tennis Elbow Anatomy (Outside of the Elbow)
- Involves the common extensor tendon, especially the ECRB
- These muscles straighten the wrist and help you grip with power
- That repeated strain irritates the lateral epicondylle (outside bump)
How Do They Feel?
Golfer’s Elbow
- Pain on the inside
- Worse with palm-up lifting or wrist flexing
- Grip may feel weak or even tingly
Tennis Elbow
- Pain on the outside
- Worse with palm-down lifting or wrist extension
- Hard to grip or twist open anything without that “ugh” feeling
What They Have in Common
- Both can weaken grip strength
- Both flare up with repeated arm and wrist use
- Both are load and stress issues (they don't just appear out of the blue!)
So Why Isn’t the Elbow Healing? (Hint: Look Upstream)
Here’s where the kinetic chain comes in. Your body works as a system, not separate parts.
As TPI medical providers, Mark and I always look at:
- Shoulder mobility (does the shoulder move well?)
- Scapular stability (can the shoulder blade control movement?)
If those areas aren’t doing their job…
the elbow has to do it instead
and it’s NOT built for that extra work
Why Your Shoulder and Scapula Matter:
The shoulder blade is the base for your arm.
If it’s unstable → the forearm and elbow have to overwork.
If the shoulder is stiff → the wrist and elbow have to move too much.
This overload builds up during:
- Golf swings
- Throwing
- Carrying groceries
- Working at a computer
Weak shoulder blade + stiff shoulder = elbow takes the hit
Strong shoulder blade + mobile shoulder = happy elbow
The Big Picture (a.k.a. How You Actually Get Better)
Golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow show symptoms at the elbow…but they rarely start there.
When we fix how the:
Shoulder moves
Shoulder blade stabilizes
Wrist and forearm handle load
…the elbow stops having to do all the work.
That means:
- Less pain
- Better strength
- A safer, more powerful golf swing
- Confidence in every movement (yes, even grabbing your coffee )
If You’re Dealing With Elbow Pain…
There is a fix...and it’s bigger than the elbow itself.
Your body is smart. It’s trying to help.
But sometimes, it needs a little guidance to work as a team again.
You have way more potential for strength and recovery than you realize. We’re here to help you move freely again, and get your elbow back in the game.
Dr. Ryan A. DiPrimo
Contact Me
