Golfer’s Elbow

There are a number of conditions that can develop in a tennis player as a result of playing the game, and the most well-known and obvious of these is of course tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow is so named because it results from a motion familiar to players of tennis, but it can strike people who have never picked up a racquet in their life. In the same way, tennis players who have never attempted to play golf may find themselves falling victim to the condition known as “Golfer's elbow”.

Confusingly, Golfer’s elbow is occasionally referred to as “pitcher’s elbow”, especially in America. This is because the motion of a pitcher’s arm in a game of baseball can cause the inflammation of the same tendon that is affected in a case of Golfer’s elbow. And this condition, whatever you call it, is separate and different from tennis elbow. Confused? I don’t blame you, it is all a little bit odd! The key thing to keep in mind, however, is that these conditions are all forms of tendonitis, and are frequently suffered by players of any sport in which the arm is swung back and forth, placing pressure on the tendon.

If you think of how a golfer swings their club, it is in a downward motion, from a point above their shoulder. It comes down towards the ground and then back up in an arc. This puts a lot of pressure on certain muscles in the arm, and in order to support the motion the muscles rely on the tendons in that area. This same motion of the arm can be seen in tennis, particularly when one player attempts to lob another, or hit a ball with backspin.

The only real cure for Golfer’s elbow, or any form of tendonitis, is to rest the arm and give the tendon time to recover from its swelling. Surgery is an option, but is expensive and has a long recovery time, meaning that only professionals will really be able to consider this option.

If you notice a pain in your elbow, and feel that it is getting worse, then the only real option is to tell first of all your coach and then a doctor. Ignoring it will guarantee only one thing – that it will worsen and harm your chances of playing more tennis, so it’s better to get things checked out, recover and be fresh to play again soon. At your age your body is still developing, so it is still more important that you get any injury checked out – ignoring the matter will cause problems with your physical development, which will have a real negative effect on your tennis and your life in general. So it may be boring to spend a few weeks off the court, but when you’re back playing again you’ll be glad you did!