Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer's Elbow: What's the difference?
Hey, what is up pickle people!
I do a lot of reviews on paddles and gear, but today I thought I would talk about something that affects many players out there today and that is: Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer's Elbow. The elbow is one of the main places people comment about in terms of injury and pain when playing pickleball. I admit, I am no doctor, but I did find some very helpful information on the differences between the two conditions and how we can try to eliminate the pain.
Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer's Elbow: What's the difference?
The difference between Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow is the location at which the elbow is irritated. Both of these injuries are caused from the over use of the arm. With repeated use of your forehand and backhand, those muscles are often overworked, becoming inflamed.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
Pain Location: outside of the elbow to your forearm and wrist.
Pain Type: It can be a constant ache in the elbow area, or only while performing activities.
Symptoms of Golfer’s Elbow
Pain Location: inside of the elbow when lifting the wrist or hand, pain when twisting the forearm, or when making a fist.
Pain Type: The area may be slightly swollen or tender to the touch, can include stiffness in the elbow or weakness in the hands or wrist.
Treating Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow
Let me preface this by saying I am not a doctor and if something is really bothering you or you have questions, definitely seek medical advice from your primary care physician. That being said, there are many ways to help alleviate very mild elbow pain and there are good habits to get into to try and limit the amount of pain you feel when playing.
#1 Rest
This sounds cliche, but this is really the best thing you can do for your elbow if it is really bothering you. If you rest and ice your elbow, the inflammation can be reduced and the pain minimized. Rest can also means limiting the amount of time you play in a single session or even the number of times you play during the week. I highly recommend consulting a physician to get a good gauge on what your specific treatment should be.
#2 Compression
People are always wearing arm sleeves or braces, but do they actually help? The answer is usually yes. There are two main types of elbow support items for golfers and tennis elbow: sleeves and braces and they both create compression in the affected elbow area to help distribute the stresses along the entirety of the muscle to avoid stress in a single point. The best part about these braces is it can also help prevent the onset of elbow injuries, so it really doesn’t hurt to have one even if you do not have lots of pain.
Elbow Sleeve
Kunto Fitness Elbow Brace Compression Support Sleeve
Pros:
Compresses large area and can provide widespread relief
Multi use for Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow
Cons:
No localized relief
Not fully adjustable
Elbow Brace
Tomight Tennis Elbow Brace with Compression Pad for Both Men and Women
Pros:
Extremely localized relief
Can be adjusted to match pain locations
Cons:
Only one point of relief
Can feel a bit bulky
#3 Stretching
Stretching can make a huge difference for these types of elbow pain and it is very important to consult your doctor before doing any types of stretching in order to know that what you are doing isn’t making the condition worse. If you really suffer from ongoing pain in your elbow, it is recommended to consult a physician to help you alleviate the pain.
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