Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are tendon-related pain conditions affecting the outside or inside of the elbow. Tennis elbow usually involves the tendons that extend the wrist and fingers; golfer’s elbow usually affects the tendons that flex the wrist and fingers. Despite their names, these conditions are common in non-athletes and can develop through gripping, lifting, typing, tool use, racket sports, golf, gym training or repeated wrist and forearm loading.
The important point is that elbow pain is not always only an elbow problem. The neck, shoulder blade, shoulder joint, upper back, nerve mobility, grip mechanics and forearm tendons all influence how load travels through the arm.
Symptoms
Patients may feel pain with gripping, lifting a kettle, opening jars, typing, using a mouse, shaking hands, lifting weights, racket sports or golf. There may be forearm tightness, weakness, burning, nerve-like symptoms or shoulder and neck tension.
Assessment and treatment
At Sayer Clinics, we assess the elbow locally and the whole upper limb chain. Your chiropractor or manual therapist will examine the neck, shoulder, thoracic spine, elbow, wrist, grip strength, tendon loading and nerve sensitivity.
Treatment may include elbow and forearm soft-tissue therapy, tendon loading advice, chiropractic treatment to the neck and upper back where relevant, shoulder and scapular rehabilitation, massage, mobilisation, ergonomic advice and progressive strengthening.
This is a more complete approach than treating the painful tendon in isolation.
Your first consultation includes a full medical history, clinical examination, diagnosis, consented digital X-ray where clinically indicated, first treatment session and clear aftercare advice. Treatment is always adapted to your condition, examination findings, medical history and comfort level. Where symptoms suggest a condition requiring medical investigation, we will advise appropriate referral.