Tennis Elbow or Golfer’s Elbow: What’s the Difference?

Tennis Elbow or Golfer’s Elbow: What’s the Difference?

by | May 5, 2025 | Chiropractic In Phoenix, Chiropractor, golf, shockwave

Tennis Elbow or Golfer’s Elbow: What’s the Difference?

 

Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow—what’s the difference, and can chiropractic care help? The short answer to both is yes! If you’re dealing with nagging elbow pain, you’re not alone—and it may not even be from sports. Despite their athletic names, tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are two of the most common causes of elbow pain and can affect anyone from athletes to desk workers.

 

With Golfers elbow less than 1% of the population will suffer annually,  While roughly 3% of the population or up to 10 million people will suffer with tennis elbow annually and in about 80% of those will have symptoms for up to 1 year.  But who wants to suffer for a year if there is an effective solution that does not involve injections or surgery

 

At Desert Valley Chiropractic in North Phoenix, we specialize in non-invasive solutions like Activator Method chiropractic adjustments and radial pressure shockwave therapy to help relieve pain and restore function—without drugs. injections or surgery.

 

What’s the Difference?

 

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis):

  • Pain is located on the outside of the elbow.
  • Caused by repetitive extension of the wrist and fingers.
  • Common in racquet sports, but also seen in painters, plumbers, and computer users.

 

Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis):

  • Pain is located on the inside of the elbow.
  • Caused by repetitive flexion of the wrist and gripping.
  • Common in golfers, but also affects weightlifters, mechanics, those with repetitive gripping motions, and side sleepers who rest their arm under the pillow.

 

Both conditions involve microtears in the tendons that attach to the elbow joint, leading to inflammation, pain, and weakness in the arm and wrist.

 

How Chiropractic Can Help

At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we use gentle Activator adjustments to restore function and alignment not just in the elbow, but also in the wrist, shoulder, and spine—because elbow pain is often connected to joint stress elsewhere in the body.  Our low-force method means no twisting or popping will also reduce swelling to the affected joints ,  and it’s safe for acute and chronic elbow injuries alike.

 

 

Shockwave Therapy for Elbow Pain Relief

One of our most effective tools for stubborn cases of tennis or golfer’s elbow is Radial Pressure Shockwave Therapy . This treatment uses pulsed acoustic waves to:

  • Break up scar tissue
  • Increase blood flow
  • Accelerate tissue repair and healing
  • Reduce pain and inflammation
  • Promote stem cell production

Shockwave therapy is a great option when rest, braces, or even cortisone shots haven’t helped—and you can see improvement in just a few sessions.

 

Looking for Elbow Pain Relief in North Phoenix?

If you’re tired of elbow pain interfering with your work, workouts, or daily life, let us help. At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we serve the Moon Valley and greater North Phoenix area with customized care plans for elbow injuries, including gentle chiropractic adjustments, rehabilitative exercises, and cutting-edge shockwave therapy.

Call us today at (602) 439-1515 or schedule online at desertvalleychiropractic.com to find out if you’re a candidate for our elbow pain relief protocols.

Chiropractic care that helps you feel better, move better, and live better—right here in North Phoenix!

 

 

Can Chiropractic Care Improve your Golf game?

Can Chiropractic Care Improve your Golf game?

by | Feb 14, 2023 | Chiropractic In Phoenix, golf, sport

Golf is an activity enjoyed by millions and in recent years the popularity has skyrocketed. Regardless of your level of play, anyone can enjoy a day outside on the course, plus it comes with many health benefits.  It might be surprising for some, but if you walk or use a push cart you can burn anywhere from 1400 to 2000 calories over 18 holes.  That’s a lot!

According to Dr. Tom LaFountain, Director of Chiropractic Services for the PGA Tour, most golfer will experience pain.  Statistics show that 80 percent of injuries suffered through golfing are back related. This is most likely due to the repetitive nature of golf. When a golfer swings repetitively, they are making themselves more likely to experience muscle strains.

 

More than a Monkey on Your Back:

While golf is considered a low impact sport, to swing a golf club can be quite violent.  Every golf swing puts a significant amount of compression load on the spine.  Studies have found that each swing can place up to eight times a person’s body weight on the spine.  Imagine if you are 180 pounds, that can be upwards of 1400 pounds of compression on the spine.

Over time this can compromise the spine, leading to misalignments of the vertebrae, joint dysfunction and pain.

 

chiropractic-golf-swing

Chiropractic Care and Golf:

Chiropractic care promotes optimum function of the whole body including the spine. We established a golf swing can be violent, and it absolutely requires coordination between several body parts. Chiropractic care can help with that.  It is an effective way to improve the function and mobility of the body by reducing the misalignments of the joints most compromised by repetitive motion.

However, it is not always about treating the injury after it happens.  Many people who participate in sport, not just golfers, enter the game already compromised.  They’re suffering from joint dysfunction or misalignment.  Playing any sport with a poor spine can lead to poor posture and poor joint mechanics which lead to injury.  Perhaps you have been playing Look Out Mountain golf club in Phoenix Arizona, and felt your back seize up after a routine swing. Chiropractors can adjust the spine to reduce misalignments and improve joint mechanics of the spine in order to prevent injury.  Regular chiropractic care is the best way to assure that you can not only prevent injury but also spend less time away from the course.

 

 

 

 

Why Tiger Woods Uses Chiropractic Care:

Tiger Woods is an incredible athlete and arguably the greatest golfer of all time.  He worked tirelessly from a very young age to be the best and chiropractic care has helped him do that.  He has said “I’ve been going to a chiropractor for as long as I can remember, it is as important as the practice of my swing.” He is not alone, Woods and many other professional golfers rely on regular Chiropractic care.  It helps them to maximize mobility and prevent injury.

 

 

We may not be on the same level as a professional golfer such as Tiger Woods, but all golfers want to play without the worry of injury or pain.  Consider visiting a Chiropractor near you to discuss how treatment can help you stay healthy and enjoy a day on the course.