How Does Golfer's and Tennis Elbow Resolve?
Fzt. Kemran Hafız · 1 September 2026 · 2 min read · Last updated:
Tennis and golfer's elbow are wear from overuse of the tendons that attach to the bony bump on the elbow. In most people it's triggered not by sport, but by daily work and household movements. In both, the problem isn't in the joint — it's the loading where the tendon meets the bone.
The difference
- Tennis elbow: outer side; muscles that lift/grip the wrist.
- Golfer's elbow: inner side; muscles that bend the wrist.
What helps?
- Relative rest and applications that manage pain in the acute phase
- Graded loading — the real driver of healing
- Exercises that condition the wrist and grip strength, adjusting equipment (mouse, keyboard, grip thickness)
Patience and the right return to work
These conditions take time — weeks, sometimes months. The most common mistake is returning fully to the old load once pain eases; while the tendon isn't ready, this brings the complaint back. That's why the return to daily work and movement should be planned gradually and measured, with load increased step by step. Cortisone can bring short-term relief but, since repeated use can weaken the tendon, the decision is made with a physician.
When is assessment needed?
Elbow pain that doesn't resolve within a few weeks, that also hurts at night, or that causes weakness or numbness in the hand should be assessed; nerve compression can sometimes give a similar picture.
Fzt. Kemran Hafız assesses the loading in elbow pain; gradually prepares the tendon for load again and plans a safe return to daily work.
Can both occur together?
Yes, especially in work or training requiring intense grip on both sides, they can appear together in the same arm or in different arms. In this case, assessment measures the load on both tendons separately; the programme is built around the overall capacity of the grip and forearm muscles, not just a single area.