Tennis elbow — Tennis Elbow Oracle
Eccentric wrist extension HSR, isometric grip holds, supination/pronation band work. Sport-Proofing drills: wall volleys, shadow swings, controlled feeds for backhand patterning. Open Tennis Elbow Oracle →
Comparison · Updated
Tennis elbow vs golf elbow — what's the difference?
TL;DR. Tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow (lateral epicondyle, wrist extensors, ICD-10 M77.1). Golfer's elbow is pain on the inside of the elbow (medial epicondyle, wrist flexors / pronator teres, ICD-10 M77.0). Tennis elbow is roughly 7–10× more common. Both respond to the same protocol family — heavy slow resistance, strict eccentric tempo, 12–16 week arc — but loaded in opposite directions.
Educational only. Not medical advice. A clinician (GP, physio, or sports medicine specialist) should confirm the diagnosis before you start any rehab — symptom maps overlap with cubital tunnel, radial tunnel, and cervical referred pain.
Side by side
| Tennis elbow | Golf elbow | |
|---|---|---|
| Medical name | Lateral epicondylitis / lateral elbow tendinopathy | Medial epicondylitis / medial elbow tendinopathy |
| ICD-10 | M77.1 | M77.0 |
| Pain location | Outside (lateral) of the elbow | Inside (medial) of the elbow |
| Affected tendon | Common extensor origin (ECRB primarily) | Common flexor / pronator origin (pronator teres, FCR) |
| Provoking movement | Resisted wrist extension, gripping with wrist extended | Resisted wrist flexion, forceful pronation, gripping with palm up |
| Sport triggers | Tennis backhand, padel, squash, repetitive screwdriver use | Golf swing, throwing sports, tennis forehand/serve, hammering |
| Prevalence | 1–3% general population; ~40% lifetime in tennis players | ~0.4% general population; common in golfers and throwers |
| Red flag overlap | Radial tunnel syndrome | Cubital tunnel (ulnar nerve) — check for ring/little finger tingling |
| Primary loading | Eccentric wrist extension HSR | Eccentric wrist flexion + pronation HSR |
| Typical arc | 12–16 weeks | 12–16 weeks (often slightly slower) |
| Mobile Squad app | Tennis Elbow Oracle | Golf Elbow Oracle |
How to tell which one you have
- Press the bony bump on the outside of your elbow with your thumb. Sharp local pain → tennis elbow.
- Press the bony bump on the inside of your elbow. Sharp local pain → golfer's elbow.
- Hold arm straight, palm down. Make a fist. Resist someone pushing your wrist down. Outer-elbow pain → tennis elbow.
- Hold arm straight, palm up. Make a fist. Resist someone pushing your wrist down. Inner-elbow pain → golfer's elbow.
- Ring or little finger numbness/tingling = think cubital tunnel (ulnar nerve), not golfer's elbow. See a clinician.
Self-screen tests are a starting point. A clinician confirms with examination and, if warranted, imaging.
Same protocol family, different loading
Both conditions are load-induced tendinopathies sharing the Cook & Purdam continuum (reactive → disrepair → degenerative). The clinical response is the same family: progressive heavy slow resistance with strict eccentric tempo, calibrated daily, over 12–16 weeks. What changes is the direction of loading.
Golf elbow — Golf Elbow Oracle
Eccentric wrist flexion HSR, isometric pronation, hammer curls, towel grip work. 9-Hole tournament progression and a return-to-swing drill stack. Open Golf Elbow Oracle →
Evidence
- AAOS OrthoInfo — Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis). orthoinfo.aaos.org
- AAOS OrthoInfo — Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis). orthoinfo.aaos.org
- NICE CKS — Tennis elbow. cks.nice.org.uk
- Vinod & Ross — Refractory medial epicondylitis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2015. PubMed 26143161
- Cook & Purdam — Tendon pathology continuum. BJSM 2009. PubMed 19224904
Educational content only. Not medical advice. Please consult a qualified clinician before starting any rehab program.
Related
Pick the right side of the elbow.
Two apps, two tendons, same protocol family — calibrated to where it actually hurts.