Golfers elbow vs Tennis elbow both cause annoying elbow pain — but they’re actually different injuries needing slightly different rehab. The good news? Physiotherapy works extremely well for both. In this guide you’ll learn how to tell them apart, what really fixes them, and how to stop them coming back. If your elbow’s been nagging — keep reading.

First — What’s the Difference?

Despite the sporting names, most people who get these injuries don’t even play golf or tennis.
They’re overuse tendon injuries caused by repetitive gripping, lifting, typing, tools, gym, or parenting.

ConditionLocation of PainTendon InvolvedCommon In
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)Outside of elbowWrist extensorsOffice workers, gym, racquet sports, tradies
Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)Inside of elbowWrist flexorsManual labour, lifting, gripping, climbers

So when people search “golfers elbow vs tennis elbow”, the key difference is simple:

👉 Outside pain = Tennis elbow
👉 Inside pain = Golfers elbow

But the treatment approach is similar — because both are tendon overload injuries (tendinopathy).

Why These Injuries Happen (The Real Cause)

It’s not inflammation anymore — research shows these are load tolerance problems.

Your tendon becomes weaker than the demand placed on it.

This happens when:

The tendon starts degenerating rather than healing.

That’s why rest alone doesn’t fix it.

Symptoms: How to Tell Which One You Have

Tennis Elbow Symptoms

Golfers Elbow Symptoms

Why It Doesn’t Heal By Itself

Many patients tell us:

“I rested it for months and it came straight back”

Because tendons don’t need rest.
They need progressive loading.

Without the right load:

Physiotherapy fixes this by rebuilding tendon capacity.

Physiotherapy Assessment (What We Look For)

At XPhysio Frenchs Forest, we don’t just poke the elbow.

We assess the whole chain:

Because elbow pain is usually the symptom — not the cause.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Tennis Elbow

1. Pain Reduction Phase

Goal: Calm the tendon without resting it

We use:

You can still use the arm — just in a smarter way.

2. Tendon Strength Phase

This is the most important stage.

We progressively load the tendon:

This actually stimulates tendon healing.

3. Return to Function Phase

Now we retrain real life tasks:

Most people skip this — and relapse.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Golfers Elbow Vs Tennis Elbow

Treatment is similar but targets different muscles.

Phase 1 — Calm Pain

Phase 2 — Load the Tendon

Phase 3 — Functional Strength

Golfer’s elbow often takes slightly longer due to poorer blood supply.

Important: Why Massage & Dry Needling Alone Won’t Fix It

They help pain short-term — but they don’t rebuild tendon strength.

Without loading:

Pain relief = temporary

With loading:

Tissue capacity increases = long term fix

Physiotherapy focuses on the long game.

Real Patient Example (Frenchs Forest Clinic)

We recently saw a 42-year-old dad from Belrose NSW who drove over to our Frenchs Forest clinic.

He developed severe inside elbow pain after:

He’d rested it for 4 months — no improvement.

Findings:

Treatment plan:

Result:
✔ Pain reduced within 2 weeks
✔ Back to gym in 6 weeks
✔ Full pull-ups pain-free in 10 weeks

He said:

“I thought I’d need injections — turns out I just needed the right rehab.”

Do You Need Scans or Injections?

Usually no.

Research shows:

Scans are only needed if:

How Long Does Recovery Take?

SeverityTypical Recovery
Mild4–6 weeks
Moderate6–12 weeks
Chronic3–6 months

If you’ve had pain >3 months — it’s a tendon conditioning issue.

Prevention Tips (Massively Important)

For Desk Workers

For Gym

For Parents

The Big Takeaway

Both injuries are not inflammatory problems.

They’re:

Load management + strength capacity problems

The fix is progressive rehab — not rest, braces, or injections alone.

FAQs

1. Which is worse — golfers elbow Vs tennis elbow?

Neither is worse, but golfer’s elbow often takes longer to settle due to poorer tendon blood supply.

2. Should I stop gym if I have elbow pain?

No — you should modify it. Complete rest delays healing.

3. Do braces help?

They can reduce pain short term but don’t fix the tendon.

4. Can physio cure chronic elbow pain?

Yes — even long-term cases improve with progressive loading rehab.

5. How do I know if it’s nerve pain instead?

Tingling or numbness into fingers suggests nerve involvement — physio can assess this.

6. Will cortisone injections fix it?

They reduce pain short term but increase recurrence rates long term.

7. Is stretching helpful?

Only mildly. Strengthening matters far more.

8. When should I see a physio?

If pain lasts longer than 2–3 weeks or keeps coming back.

References

Give us a call today on 9806 3077, or book online, just CLICK HERE
https://x-physio.au4.cliniko.com/bookings#service