Have you ever experienced a sharp pain in your elbow after playing sports? You’re not alone. Many athletes experience elbow pain and wonder if they have “tennis elbow” or “pickleball elbow,” and if the two are even related. Let’s break it down and find out!
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow (or lateral epicondylitis) is an umbrella term for any type of overuse injury that occurs in the tendon on the outside of your elbow. It usually occurs when an athlete puts too much pressure on their wrist or forearm, resulting in inflammation and pain. This can happen from activities like tennis, weight-lifting, or golfing—but remember that you don’t have to be a professional athlete to get it!
What is pickleball elbow?
Pickleball is a fast-paced sport similar to badminton or table tennis, but with its own unique set of rules. When playing pickleball, people often develop what is known as “pickleball elbow,” which refers to an overuse injury caused by repetitive motions like serving or hitting the ball back and forth.
Pickleball elbow is similar to tennis elbow because it involves the same tendon on the outside of your arm; however, the cause is slightly different because of the motion used when playing pickleball versus playing tennis.
Is pickleball elbow the same as tennis elbow?
The short answer is no—although both injuries involve inflammation and pain in the same area of your arm (the outside part), they are actually caused by different activities and require different treatments.
That being said, if you suffer from either condition, then rest and physical therapy are usually recommended to help alleviate symptoms. Additionally, make sure that you warm up before playing any sport so that your muscles are less likely to become injured!
Conclusion:
In conclusion, although there may be similarities between pickleball and tennis elbows due to their shared locations on the same part of your arm, they are still two distinct injuries with unique causes and treatments.
If you experience any symptoms such as pain or swelling after engaging in either activity—or any other high impact sport—make sure to see a doctor right away so they can provide proper diagnosis and treatment options for you!
I also have written an article on the best pickleball paddle for tennis elbow: the 6 best. You can read what I found in my research by clicking the button below.
There is also FAQs that give short answers on various questions asked, so they may help you with any additional questions you may have. Or, at least start you off on your patch to find out more on the topic.
