Condition
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
Lifting a coffee pot, carrying a bag or working at a computer for longer periods may suddenly hurt at the elbow. Perhaps you have never played tennis or golf and wonder why that name appears in your report. It mainly describes the affected area, rather than a prerequisite for developing the condition.
Tennis elbow is also commonly called “Tennisarm” in German. What matters is where your symptoms occur and which activities trigger them.
Open individual sections or all the details on this page.
Understanding
A closer look
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow involve painful tendon attachments at the elbow. Together, we look at which activities trigger symptoms, whether the examination findings fit and how you can use your arm more reliably in daily life again.
Pain on the outside or inside makes a difference
With tennis elbow, the typical pain is on the outside of the elbow. Several tendons attach here, including those of the muscles that straighten the wrist and fingers. Golfer’s elbow affects the inside, where muscles that bend the wrist and rotate the forearm attach. Reports may use the technical terms lateral or radial epicondylopathy for the outer side, and medial or ulnar epicondylopathy for the inner side.
The term ‘inflammation’ does not fully explain a longer-lasting problem. Mechanical demands and changes in tendon tissue can act together. The arm does not have to have been injured in a single incident. Symptoms often develop through small, repeated episodes of excessive loading over time, for example with an awkward arm or wrist position at a keyboard and mouse. Less often, a single forceful overload is the main event, such as lifting a heavy object.
Why even small movements can become difficult
Gripping involves more than the hand. The forearm muscles stabilise the wrist, transmitting force to their attachments at the elbow. An activity at the end of the arm can therefore cause pain somewhere unexpected. Sometimes carrying something with your arm straight is particularly difficult; sometimes turning a tool is the problem.
For diagnosis, it helps if you can describe as precisely as possible when the pain occurs. A pulling sensation during activity is assessed differently from new numbness or a marked loss of strength. Symptoms on the inside of the elbow also require us to consider the nearby ulnar nerve. Please specifically mention any tingling in your ring and little fingers during the examination.
Further information
When you need medical help sooner
A prompt medical assessment is important after a significant injury, if there is a visible deformity or if you can barely move the arm. This also applies to an elbow that is clearly red, hot or swollen and accompanied by fever. New numbness or increasing weakness should be assessed promptly. These signs cannot simply be attributed to any tendon irritation.
If these changes occur, do not just wait for a routine appointment for an established diagnosis. When you contact us, describe the new symptoms and how they have developed.
The examination looks beyond the painful spot
We ask when symptoms began, about your work and leisure activities, and about previous treatments. The examination assesses tenderness, movement and the response to selected movements against resistance, among other things. This helps us judge whether the tendon attachment explains your symptoms or another cause is more likely.
Ultrasound can help answer an additional question about the tendon. An X-ray or MRI is not needed simply because the condition is called tennis elbow. These may add information if symptoms follow an unusual course or another injury is suspected, for example. An examination should answer an outstanding question, rather than produce as many images as possible.
Adapting activity without giving up everyday life
First, it is worth looking more closely at the activities that particularly trigger pain. Which could you temporarily do for less time, approach with a different grip or break into shorter periods? When gardening, for example, it can make a difference whether you carry out a demanding task for a long time without a break or change tasks more often. Adapting an activity is not a personal failure, nor does it mean the arm needs to be rested permanently.
The aim is to find a level of activity you can tolerate and build up from there. Also discuss tasks you cannot simply leave out, for example at work or when supporting relatives. A practical plan needs to take these circumstances into account.
Exercises need the right level of loading
Adapted strengthening exercises can form part of treatment. Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow involve different muscle groups. An exercise plan should therefore match the painful side of the elbow, the current level of irritation and your capacity for activity.
It is not enough simply to be shown a movement once. You should know how to perform it, how to increase the load and what response means you should seek advice. Symptoms that become significantly worse or remain worse are not evidence that exercise is particularly effective. At OrthoCoast, we advise you on movement and exercise. Any physiotherapy that is needed is considered separately.
Weighing up additional treatments carefully
Pain-relieving medication may be an option for a time, if it is suitable for your other conditions and medication. A support may be tried in an individual case; it is not a reliable substitute for addressing loading and function.
Shockwave therapy and ACP/PRP are also discussed for tendon problems. The fact that a treatment is offered does not establish its benefit for this particular condition. Research findings are inconsistent; in particular, results for tennis elbow cannot simply be applied to golfer’s elbow. Cortisone injections may provide short-term relief, but need especially careful consideration because of possible adverse longer-term effects, particularly on tendon tissue. Before adding a treatment, we therefore discuss the achievable goal, alternatives and risks. A diagnosis alone does not determine a fixed course of treatment.
Patience and monitoring progress go together
Symptoms may settle slowly and persist for months. Slow improvement does not automatically mean that surgery will be needed. Equally, symptoms that remain severe or become worse should be reassessed.
Specific observations are helpful: which activity can you do for longer again? Is there less pain afterwards? Are you needing painkillers more often rather than less often? If progress does not match expectations, we review the diagnosis and approach. Surgery may also be discussed when a significant restriction persists for a long time. Its potential benefit needs a separate assessment; an operation is not a guaranteed solution.
What to expect and next steps
Preparing for your consultation at OrthoCoast
Bring any existing reports and an up-to-date medication list. Note which movements hurt and what you have already changed or had treated. A work or sporting goal is also useful: for example, being able to do a particular task again without needing to rest the arm for a long time afterwards.
Use ‘Appointments & enquiries’ to describe your symptoms for an orthopaedic consultation in Wolgast. We only decide on an additional treatment after a medical assessment. For any self-funded service, we discuss what is involved and the expected cost beforehand. For patients with German statutory health insurance, this means an estimate and your signed consent must be in place before we provide a self-funded service that is not covered by statutory health insurance (GKV).
Our doctors in this specialty
Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil.Richard Kasch
Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
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Dr. med.Christoph Jährling
Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
DVO-certified osteologist
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Björn Weidemann
Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
DVO-certified osteologist
View profileThese doctors can help assess your symptoms. Together, we look at which movements and activities are causing you difficulty.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have tennis elbow without playing tennis?
Yes. The name describes a typical pattern of symptoms on the outside of the elbow. Repeated hand movements, manual work or other demands on the arm can also play a role.
Is tingling in the fingers part of golfer’s elbow?
There may also be irritation of the nearby ulnar nerve. Tingling in the ring and little fingers, in particular, should be assessed by a doctor. A tendon diagnosis does not automatically explain every change in sensation.
Can I continue playing sport?
That depends on the sport and how you respond to the activity. Discuss which movements should be adapted temporarily and how to return to sport. One pain-free day alone tells us little about whether you can already tolerate full activity.
Which exercises are suitable for both conditions?
The muscle groups involved differ. Please therefore have an assessment to establish which exercise is right for your condition. There is no single programme that is right for every case of tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow at every stage.
Do I need an MRI before my first appointment?
The clinical examination is usually the most important first step. Bring any existing images with you. We decide whether further imaging is needed on the basis of the medical question that remains unanswered.
Your next step
