Tennis and golfer's elbow Tuke tēnehi me tuke hahaupōro
Elbow tendinopathy is a common cause of elbow pain. When this happens on the outside of your elbow (the lateral epicondyle) it is called tennis elbow. Pain on the inside (the medial epicondyle) is called golfer's elbow.
Causes of tennis and golfer's elbow
Tennis or golfer's elbow affects the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to your elbow. Although tennis and golf can contribute to this pain, so can many other recreational activities or work-related tasks.
You are most likely to get tennis or golfer's elbow if you:
- are aged between 40 and 55
- smoke
- are a very unhealthy weight
- perform repetitive movements with your arms for more than 2 hours a day
- regularly lift weights of more than 20 kg.
Symptoms of tennis and golfer's elbow
Symptoms you might have include pain on the inside of your elbow (golfer's elbow) or on the outside (tennis elbow). Often this is on your dominant arm, with symptoms developing over time.
The pain may be most severe with lifting, gripping and twisting movements. Your arm may feel weak.
Some people have constant pain that causes disability and disrupts their sleep.
Diagnosing tennis and golfer's elbow
Your healthcare provider or physiotherapist will diagnose tennis and golfer's elbow by examining your arm and talking to you about your symptoms and any injuries you have had.
You should not need an x-ray unless you have had a blow to your elbow, which might have caused another injury.
Self care for tennis and golfer's elbow
Symptoms can last anywhere from a few months to more than a year. Your pain may settle with some simple self care.
Follow the advice on managing soft tissue injuries.
Soft tissue injuries and treatment
Simple pain relief medicines can also help.
Pain relief medicines for adults
At first you will need to change how you do the activities that make your pain worse. You may need to:
- avoid some activities for a time
- find different ways of doing them that do not hurt.
If you play sport, talk to your physiotherapist or coach about improving your technique to avoid the pain.
If you think that something you do at work is causing your pain, talk to your manager about changing how you work, or even changing your role.
If a repetitive movement at work has caused the pain, your injury might be covered by ACC. ACC may help you with the cost of treatment and time away from work. Talk to your healthcare provider or ACC about this.
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is a government agency that helps pay for treatment if you are injured in an accident.
The ACC provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all residents and visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand. This means if you are hurt in an accident, ACC can help no matter who caused the accident.
If you have an accident and need emergency care in a hospital, it will be covered by ACC.
ACC usually pays some of the other medical costs if you have an accident, like surgery, physiotherapy and medicines. ACC may also be able to cover some loss of earnings resulting from an accident.
I'm injured — The Accident Compensation Corporation
Treating tennis and golfer's elbow
If your symptoms are not improving or you have concerns you can see a healthcare provider.
Physiotherapy
Your physiotherapist can help with massage, strengthening exercises and stretches. They can give you advice and support about modifying activities. They will also help guide you with returning to activities, sports and work.
They may also tape your arm or suggest you use a special brace that takes the strain off the area causing pain, allowing it to heal.
Find a physio — Physiotherapy New Zealandexternal link
Steroid injections
If your elbow is not getting better with treatment, your healthcare provider or physiotherapist might recommend you have a steroid injection. Steroid injections help to reduce pain in the short term, but they do not stop it coming back. Also, research shows that people who have steroid injections might not do as well in the long-term as those who have just had physiotherapy.
If you do have a steroid injection, you should make sure you also continue with physiotherapy.
Surgery
Almost all cases of tennis and golfer's elbow can be treated without surgery. But your healthcare provider or physiotherapist might refer you to a specialist if your pain:
- has not got better after 6 months
- is very bad.