Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow: treat them early, before they become chronic
Elbow tendon pain is not only for athletes. Who gets it, how it starts and why most cases can be treated without surgery.
2 min read
Tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow; golfer's elbow is pain on the inside. Both come from repeated strain on the tendons attached there, and despite the names they are common in people who type, cook or lift at work.
At first it hurts only during certain movements. Later, lifting a cup or turning a door handle can hurt, grip feels weak, and pressing around the elbow is painful.
Most cases can start without surgery: reducing the movements that cause pain, then medication, physical therapy, exercise rehabilitation, manual therapy and shockwave therapy. If pain keeps returning, musculoskeletal ultrasound checks the tendon before injection treatment is considered.
This is a summary written by Kwangdong Hospital. The full article was published in Korean.
Sports Kyunghyang · 2026.09.28
