Golfer's Elbow - Tennis Elbow
A Clear Path Forward
A Functional Approach to Elbow Tendon Treatment
Are you experiencing nagging pain or stiffness in your elbow joint that limits your movement? Whether you’re dealing with pain on the inside or the outside of your elbow, I provide a comprehensive and informed approach to treating tendonitis and tendinosis, helping you regain function and reduce discomfort naturally.
What is "Golfer's Elbow" / Tennis Elbow?
Elbow pain is often labelled as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. While those names are familiar, they can be misleading. You don’t need to play tennis or golf or be an athlete for that matter, to develop either condition.
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are both forms of elbow tendinopathy. The medical terms are medial or lateral epicondylopathy (formerly epicondylitis). The issue is rarely caused by inflammation or damage to the tissue—most often it’s a tendon that needs the right kind of help to adapt to the work it is doing.
At MovementSpark, I treat both as forms of elbow tendinopathy— a painful overuse condition. The underlaying cause is that there is an ongoing mismatch between what the tendon is being asked to do and what it is currently capable of handling.
What’s the difference between golfer's elbow and tennis elbow?
Both conditions involve irritated or overloaded tendons around the elbow, but they affect different sides and movements.
Tennis elbow (lateral elbow tendinopathy)
- Pain on the outside of the elbow
- Often aggravated by gripping, lifting, typing, mouse use, or shaking hands
- Common in office workers, trades, parents, and active adults
Golfer’s elbow (medial elbow tendinopathy)
- Pain on the inside of the elbow
- Often aggravated by wrist flexion, gripping, pulling, or rotational tasks
- Common with repetitive work, gym training, racquet sports, and manual labour
Despite different locations, the underlying issue is similar: the tendon is being loaded beyond its current capacity.
A more current understanding of elbow tendon pain.
For the longest time we treated elbow pain as an “inflamed” tendon. We now know that long‑standing elbow pain is not primarily an inflammatory condition and not simply a “damaged” or “injured” tendon that needs fixing.
Instead:
- Tendons are strong, adaptable tissues designed to handle load
- Pain often reflects reduced tolerance, sensitivity of the nervous system, or both
- Imaging findings (like “degeneration”) do not reliably predict pain or function
This is good news. It means that your tendon is not fragile and you’re not falling apart—It just means you need a program to build up the health of the tendon.
Why rest alone doesn't work
Short‑term rest can calm symptoms, but rest alone does not rebuild tendon capacity. When load is reintroduced—typing, lifting, training—the pain often returns.
At MovementSpark, the goal is not just pain relief, but to:
- Calm the pain system
- Gradually rebuild tendon strength
- Restore confidence in using your arm again
The MovementSpark Approach
Treatment focuses on calming pain and building capacity at the same time.
This may include:
1. Education & reassurance
Understanding why your elbow hurts—as well as when and how it can be safe to use—not only reduces uncertainty, sensitivity, and flare‑ups but also allows the tendon to get stronger and adapt to the activities you are engaged in.
2. Manual therapy
Hands‑on treatment can:
- Reduce sensitivity around the elbow and forearm
- Improve local circulation and tissue tolerance
- Help restore comfortable movement
3. Progressive loading exercises
Targeted exercises for the forearm, wrist, and elbow are essential. These are:
- Specific to your symptoms
- Progressed gradually
- Designed to rebuild tendon capacity, not irritate it
4. Shockwave therapy (when appropriate)
In most cases, we can use shockwave therapy begin reducing pain sensitivity and give the healing process a boost—It is especially beneficial when we combine it with a structured loading program. Shockwave is not a “quick fix” modality.
5. Lifestyle & work‑load review
Office work, training habits, stress, sleep, and recovery all influence tendon pain. We look at the whole picture.
Common contributors to elbow tendinopathy
- Prolonged computer and mouse use
- Repetitive gripping or lifting
- Sudden increases in training or workload
- Poor recovery between demands
- High overall stress or sensitized pain system
Often, it’s not how hard you’re working—it’s how consistently and how long the tendon is being asked to cope without enough recovery or strength.
Can tendon pain get better without injections or surgery?
In most cases, yes.
The majority of people with tennis or golfer’s elbow improve with:
- Education
- Progressive loading
- Supportive manual therapy
Surgery and injections are rarely first‑line solutions and are usually considered only after a thorough, active rehab approach has been tried.
When should you seek help for you elbow tendinopathy?
Early intervention really helps. If you find you are not improving after 6 weeks, it’s a good idea to seek professional help. It’s always beneficial to be proactive. Sometimes, when we get help earlier, it prevents the tendon from developing into a chronic condition.
Daily To-Do Exercise
Not always sure what’s best or how to get started? Let’s come up with a plan together!
If elbow pain is limiting your work, training, or daily life, you don’t have to push through it—or stop everything.
There is a calm, evidence‑informed, and strength‑forward approach to elbow tendinopathy.
In person appointments: 4 Points Health
Telehealth: Call to set up an appointment
1-587-855-3303
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Services: Registered Massage Therapy, tendon loading programs, shockwave therapy, education‑based care
If you’re unsure where to start, a focused assessment can help clarify what your elbow needs to recover and move forward with confidence.
Build what the tendon needs. Calm the pain. Restore capacity.