Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow: Understanding Elbow Pain and Gonstead Chiropractic

Elbow pain can make everyday activities such as lifting, gripping, writing, typing, exercising, playing sports, or working with tools difficult.

Two of the most common conditions involving elbow pain are tennis elbow and golfer's elbow.

Despite their names, you do not have to play tennis or golf to develop either condition. Repetitive gripping, lifting, computer work, manual labor, sports activities, and repeated wrist movements can all place stress on the muscles and tendons surrounding the elbow.

While tennis elbow and golfer's elbow involve different sides of the elbow, both can be associated with repetitive stress and changes in how the arm is being used.

From a Gonstead chiropractic perspective, evaluating the elbow itself is important, but it can also be helpful to examine the cervical spine, thoracic spine, shoulder, arm, wrist, and related structures.

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, typically causes pain and tenderness around the outside of the elbow.

Despite the name, tennis elbow is not limited to tennis players. It can occur in people who repeatedly use their hands, wrists, and forearms.

Common activities associated with lateral elbow pain include:

• Repetitive gripping
• Lifting
• Tennis and racquet sports
• Computer work
• Writing
• Using tools
• Manual labor
• Repetitive wrist movements

Pain may become noticeable when picking up an object, shaking hands, opening a jar, squeezing something, or extending the wrist.

What Is Golfer's Elbow?

Golfer's elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, typically causes pain and tenderness around the inside of the elbow.

Like tennis elbow, golfer's elbow is not limited to athletes.

Repetitive activities involving gripping, wrist flexion, lifting, or throwing may place stress on the muscles and tendons attached to the inside of the elbow.

Activities that may contribute include:

• Golf
• Throwing sports
• Weightlifting
• Repetitive gripping
• Manual labor
• Construction or tool use
• Repetitive wrist movements
• Certain occupational activities

Pain may become noticeable when gripping, lifting, carrying, or performing repetitive movements with the hand and wrist.

Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer's Elbow

The main difference is the location of the symptoms.

Tennis elbow:

• Usually involves the outside of the elbow
• Also called lateral epicondylitis
• Often associated with repetitive wrist and forearm extension
• May cause pain with gripping or lifting

Golfer's elbow:

• Usually involves the inside of the elbow
• Also called medial epicondylitis
• Often associated with repetitive wrist and forearm flexion
• May cause pain with gripping, lifting, or throwing

Although the locations differ, both conditions can involve repetitive loading of the muscles and tendons around the elbow.

Is the Elbow Always the Source of the Problem?

When elbow pain develops, it is natural to focus on the painful area.

However, the arm functions as a connected system.

The cervical spine, shoulder, scapula, upper back, elbow, wrist, and hand all contribute to normal upper-extremity movement.

The nerves supplying the arm also originate from the cervical region and travel through the upper extremity.

This does not mean that every case of tennis elbow or golfer's elbow originates in the neck. Local tendon and muscle problems are common causes of elbow pain.

However, when symptoms persist, repeatedly return, or occur together with neck, shoulder, or arm symptoms, evaluating related structures may provide additional information.

Could Neck Problems Contribute to Elbow or Arm Pain?

The nerves that supply the arm originate from the cervical spine and travel through the shoulder and upper extremity.

Problems involving the cervical spine or irritation along a nerve pathway can sometimes produce symptoms in the arm.

These symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Burning or sensitivity
• Changes in sensation
• Weakness

Elbow pain associated with these symptoms should be evaluated carefully because several different conditions can produce similar complaints.

A thorough examination can help determine whether the symptoms appear to be primarily related to the elbow, the cervical spine, the nervous system, or a combination of factors.

Why Can Elbow Pain Keep Coming Back?

Some people experience temporary improvement but notice that elbow pain returns when they resume normal activities.

Recurring symptoms may have several possible contributors, including:

• Repetitive movements
• Excessive gripping
• Poor movement mechanics
• Previous injuries
• Occupational demands
• Sports-related stress
• Muscle weakness or imbalance
• Insufficient recovery
• Continuing to overload irritated tissues

Simply reducing pain may not address every factor contributing to recurring symptoms.

Understanding how the arm is being used and identifying factors that continue to place stress on the elbow can be an important part of recovery.

How Does a Gonstead Chiropractor Evaluate Elbow Pain?

A Gonstead chiropractor may evaluate more than just the painful elbow.

Depending on the patient's symptoms and examination findings, the evaluation may include:

• Postural evaluation
• Cervical spine examination
• Thoracic spine examination
• Static palpation
• Motion palpation
• Instrumentation
• Orthopedic testing
• Neurological examination
• Shoulder and scapular evaluation
• Elbow and wrist evaluation
• Range-of-motion testing
• X-rays when clinically indicated

The findings are considered together with the patient's history and symptoms.

The purpose is to identify specific clinical findings and determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.

If the examination suggests that additional medical, orthopedic, or neurological evaluation is necessary, referral to an appropriate healthcare professional may be recommended.

Chiropractic Care for Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow

Because elbow pain can have different causes, treatment should be individualized.

Depending on the examination findings, chiropractic care may address identified spinal or joint dysfunction while other aspects of recovery may include:

• Activity modification
• Gradual strengthening
• Mobility exercises
• Ergonomic changes
• Rehabilitation
• Improved movement mechanics
• Appropriate recovery between activities

The goal is to understand the factors that may be contributing to continued stress on the elbow rather than focusing exclusively on temporary pain relief.

When Should Elbow Pain Be Evaluated?

Professional evaluation may be appropriate when elbow pain:

• Persists despite activity modification
• Repeatedly returns
• Interferes with work or daily activities
• Makes gripping or lifting difficult
• Limits normal elbow or wrist movement
• Develops after an injury
• Occurs together with neck or shoulder symptoms
• Extends into the forearm or hand
• Is accompanied by numbness or tingling
• Is associated with weakness or loss of grip strength

Severe trauma, significant weakness, visible deformity, sudden loss of function, substantial swelling, or rapidly worsening neurological symptoms should receive prompt medical evaluation.

Gonstead Chiropractic Care for Elbow Pain in Fairfax, VA

At Nova Gonstead Chiropractic in Fairfax, Virginia, our evaluation of elbow pain goes beyond simply examining the painful area.

The Gonstead System allows us to evaluate the cervical spine, thoracic spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and related structures for specific clinical findings that may be relevant to the patient's symptoms.

If you are experiencing tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, lateral elbow pain, medial elbow pain, recurring elbow pain, or arm symptoms associated with neck or shoulder problems, a thorough examination can help identify factors that may be contributing to your condition and determine whether Gonstead chiropractic care may be appropriate.

Nova Gonstead Chiropractic
Fairfax, Virginia

Understanding the relationship between the spine, nervous system, shoulder, and upper extremity can be an important part of evaluating persistent elbow pain.

NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic Clinic
9514 Lee Hwy (Route 29), Suite B
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 359-6262