Tennis elbow
Outside-elbow pain that makes gripping or lifting difficult.
Pain on the inside of your elbow making grip and lifting a problem?
Get back to work, training and using your hand properly without your elbow deciding what is too much.
The bag, pan, dumbbell, tool, mouse or handshake that gives you a sharp reminder on the inside of your elbow. You may not play golf at all — but you have started changing how you carry, grip, lift and train. You rest it, brace it, massage it or wait for it to settle. Then normal life asks for a firm grip again.
Book a golfer’s elbow assessment45–60 minute first appointment · Brunswick · Fitzroy North · Thornbury
40,000+patients seen by Premier
PhDDr Sanam’s doctorate in tendon problems
AxITstrength and capacity testing
3 clinicsBrunswick · Fitzroy North · Thornbury
Not sure whether this is the right diagnosis or what treatment you need? Start with Premier’s Tendon Clinic. We will assess the problem, begin appropriate treatment on your first visit and give you a clear plan for what happens next.
When elbow pain changes what you can hold, lift or do, it is not something to just put up with.
You start changing hands, avoiding a firm grip or taking longer to get through ordinary jobs. You may be able to “get through it” — but the pain is quietly deciding how you work, train and live.
A proper plan starts by working out what is driving the pain, what your arm can handle now, and how to rebuild toward the tasks that matter to you.
Rest can make it quieter. It does not always make it ready.
When you avoid the painful movement, symptoms can settle. But when the same gripping, lifting or repetitive task returns, the pain often does too — because the capacity to handle it has not changed.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY TRIED THE USUAL ADVICE
A brace, massage, injection or weeks of rest are not necessarily the answer.
“I have tried to rest it.”
Rest may reduce symptoms, but it does not tell you how to return to the job, gym, racquet sport or hobby that keeps bringing the pain back.
“I have already had treatment.”
If the same pain returns, you deserve a more specific explanation and a plan that changes as your tolerance improves.
“I do not know what I can safely keep doing.”
You need practical guardrails for the movements and tasks you cannot simply remove from life.
YOUR 45–60 MINUTE ELBOW ASSESSMENT
Leave with more than a label and a generic exercise sheet.
We start with the task you want back, then assess the painful area and the wider picture: your wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck, strength, movement and the demands of your work, gym, sport or home life.
You leave knowing what we think is most likely involved, what treatment may add value now, and the next practical steps toward the activity you want back.
Book a golfer’s elbow assessmentELBOW PAIN IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
The location and pattern of pain changes the questions we ask.
Inside elbow pain with gripping
Golfer’s elbow, sometimes called medial elbow tendinopathy, often involves pain on the inside of the elbow with gripping, lifting or wrist use.
Pain with lifting, tools or the gym
The task that aggravates it matters. We look at the load your arm is handling and what needs to change to build it back up.
Pain that returns with normal use
If reducing activity settles it but everyday work or training brings it back, you need a plan that bridges that gap.
WHERE SHOCKWAVE FITS
For some stubborn tendon presentations, it may be an important piece of the puzzle.
Shockwave Therapy may be considered for some persistent golfer’s-elbow presentations. It is not a stand-alone magic fix; it is one option alongside an assessment and a plan to rebuild the capacity your arm needs.
We use the tools that fit your assessment — not the same treatment for every painful elbow.
BACK TO THE THINGS YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO DO
The end point is not “my elbow is a bit better.”
It is opening jars, lifting at work, shaking hands, playing sport, training or using the mouse and keyboard without constantly anticipating the next twinge.
Your goal is not just less pain. It is being able to use your arm normally and trust it again.
WHEN TO TAKE ACTION
Book before elbow pain narrows what you can do even further.
Your first appointment is designed to give you a clear answer and begin appropriate treatment on the day. We start with what you want back, assess the painful area and the wider picture, explain what we think is most likely involved, then select the treatment that makes the most sense for you.
Depending on what your physiotherapist finds, treatment may include hands-on care, dry needling, Shockwave Therapy, exercise or another appropriate physiotherapy approach. You leave knowing what was started, what to do next and how the plan will build towards your goal.
Book a golfer’s elbow assessmentGolfer’s elbow: common questions
What is golfer’s elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is a common name for pain on the inside of the elbow, often related to the tendons that help control the wrist and hand. You do not need to play golf to experience it.
Why does golfer’s elbow hurt when I grip things?
Gripping recruits the forearm muscles and tendons around the inner elbow. If that area is irritated or not tolerating its current workload, everyday tasks can become painful.
Can I keep working with golfer’s elbow?
Often, yes — but you need practical guidance around the tasks, loads and positions that need adjusting while capacity is rebuilt.
Can Shockwave Therapy help golfer’s elbow?
It may be useful for some stubborn golfer’s-elbow presentations. Whether it fits depends on your assessment and the broader plan.
Do I need a scan?
Not every elbow problem needs imaging. Your clinician will explain if a scan is likely to add useful information.
What should I bring?
Bring any relevant scans or past treatment information, and be ready to describe the tasks that are currently hardest.
Will I receive treatment at my first appointment?
Yes. Your physiotherapist will assess the problem first and begin appropriate treatment during your 45–60 minute appointment. The treatment provided will depend on what they find.
RELATED PAIN PATTERNS
Not sure which page best fits?
Start with the pain that is changing what you can do. These pages may also be useful:
Shoulder pain
Shoulder pain that makes reaching, lifting or sleeping harder.
Achilles pain
Pain or stiffness through the back of the ankle with walking or running.
If you are not sure which condition best fits, start with the Premier Tendon Clinic. For some stubborn tendon presentations, Shockwave Therapy may be one useful part of a broader plan.
Pain is mainly on the outside of the elbow? Read about tennis elbow and lateral elbow pain.
Get a clear golfer’s elbow assessment and a plan for the things you want back.
Brunswick · Fitzroy North · Thornbury
Book a golfer’s elbow assessment