SUNDAY, June 1, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Tennis and golf elbow are painful conditions that affect different areas of the elbow.
Tennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow, while golf elbow affects the inside of the elbow.
Both disorders are cause by repetitive movements and overuse of the muscles in the arm. Overusing the muscles causes slight tears in the tendons, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. If you keep doing the activity without giving the injury time to heal, the tendons become inflamed and cause pain. The pain may travel down your arm and get worse when you grab onto something or extend your wrist.
The first line of treatment is to stop doing the activity that caused the pain, whether it was tennis, golf, painting, raking, or some other repetitive activity. Time off gives the muscles a chance to heal. To decrease swelling, treat the area with ice. And if you have a lot of pain, take ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory medication.
If the pain lasts for several weeks, it's time to check in with your doctor. Your physician may have you wear an arm brace for a while. If the pain is intense, your doctor may also give you a cortisone injection.
If the injury is sports-related, once you're feeling better, check your technique to make sure you're swinging properly. Strength and flexibility training might help prevent future injuries.
More information
To learn more about tennis and golf elbow, visit the Mayo Clinic.
