Elbow Pain From Lifting: Tennis Elbow, Golfer's Elbow, and Other Causes

By Dr. Andrew Kakishita, DC | Pleasant Grove, UT Chiropractor

If you experience elbow pain when lifting weights, you're not alone. Pain around the elbow can develop from repetitive gripping, increasing your training too quickly, poor load management, or irritation of the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the elbow.

At Kinetic Chiropractic, we see elbow and arm pain that can interfere with lifting, working, exercising, and everyday activities. Understanding where your pain is coming from can be the first step toward getting back to the activities you enjoy.

What Causes Elbow Pain When Lifting Weights?

Weightlifting places repeated stress on the muscles and tendons around the elbow. When the amount of loading exceeds what those tissues can currently tolerate, irritation and pain can develop.

Common contributing factors include:

Increasing weight or training volume too quickly
Repetitive gripping and pulling
Poor load management
Repeated wrist movements
Limited strength or mobility
Returning to training too quickly after an injury

Elbow pain doesn't always mean something is seriously damaged. However, persistent symptoms are worth evaluating rather than repeatedly pushing through them.

Outer vs. Inner Elbow Pain

Where you feel elbow pain can provide an important clue about what may be irritated.

Outer Elbow Pain: Tennis Elbow

Pain on the outside of the elbow is commonly associated with tennis elbow, also called lateral elbow tendinopathy. Despite its name, you don't have to play tennis to develop it.

Repetitive gripping, pulling, lifting, and wrist extension can place stress on the tendons attached to the outside of the elbow. Exercises such as rows, curls, deadlifts, and other movements requiring a strong grip may aggravate symptoms.

Inner Elbow Pain: Golfer's Elbow

Pain on the inside of the elbow is commonly associated with golfer's elbow, or medial elbow tendinopathy.

Golf isn't required either. Weightlifting, repetitive gripping, pulling movements, and other activities that repeatedly load the forearm muscles can contribute to irritation of the tendons on the inner side of the elbow.

Why Does Rest Help, but the Pain Come Back?

Rest can reduce irritation because you're temporarily removing the activity that is stressing the painful tissue. However, if you return to the same training load before the area has regained sufficient strength and tolerance, symptoms can return.

This is why recovery isn't always about simply resting until the pain disappears.

A better long-term approach may involve gradually rebuilding strength and improving how much load the elbow can handle. Training modifications, mobility work, corrective exercises, and appropriate hands-on care can all be part of that process.

How Can You Manage Elbow Pain From Lifting?

If lifting causes elbow pain, consider temporarily modifying the movements that consistently aggravate your symptoms.

You may need to:

Reduce weight or training volume
Avoid repeatedly training through significant pain
Modify your grip or exercise selection
Gradually rebuild forearm and elbow strength
Allow adequate recovery between sessions
Address mobility or movement limitations

The goal isn't necessarily to stop being active. It's to find an appropriate level of activity while your body rebuilds its capacity.

Can Shockwave Therapy Help Elbow Tendon Pain?

For appropriate chronic tendon problems, Shockwave Therapy may be one treatment option.

At Kinetic Chiropractic, we use radial Shockwave Therapy as part of a personalized approach to stubborn musculoskeletal conditions. Our Shockwave Therapy service specifically includes tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, and chronic tendon pain among the conditions we treat.

Shockwave Therapy uses targeted acoustic waves to stimulate a biological response in the treated area. It may be particularly worth considering when tendon pain has persisted despite approaches such as rest or other conservative treatments.

Treatment isn't one-size-fits-all. Depending on your symptoms and goals, our approach may also include chiropractic care, soft-tissue work, rehabilitation exercises, mobility work, or other therapies when appropriate.

When Should You Get Your Elbow Pain Evaluated?

Consider having persistent elbow pain evaluated if:

Pain continues despite modifying your workouts
Symptoms repeatedly return when you resume lifting
Your grip strength has decreased
Pain interferes with everyday activities
The elbow is becoming increasingly painful or stiff
You have difficulty performing exercises you previously tolerated

An evaluation can help determine whether you're dealing with tendon-related pain or another source of elbow or arm symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can lifting weights cause tennis elbow?

Yes. Repetitive gripping, pulling, wrist movements, and heavy lifting can place repeated stress on the tendons on the outside of the elbow and contribute to tennis elbow.

How do I know if I have golfer's elbow?

Golfer's elbow typically causes pain or tenderness around the inside of the elbow. However, several conditions can cause similar symptoms, so persistent pain should be properly evaluated.

Should I stop lifting if my elbow hurts?

You may not need to stop all exercise. Modifying painful movements, reducing load, and gradually rebuilding strength can often be more useful than complete rest alone.

Is Shockwave Therapy good for elbow pain?

Shockwave Therapy may be appropriate for certain chronic tendon problems, including tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. An evaluation can help determine whether it fits your particular symptoms and treatment goals.

Conclusion

Elbow pain when lifting weights can develop for several reasons, from repetitive gripping and excessive loading to tendon irritation. Outer elbow pain may be associated with tennis elbow, while inner elbow pain may be related to golfer's elbow.

Rest can provide temporary relief, but long-term improvement often requires gradually rebuilding strength and load tolerance. For persistent tendon-related elbow pain, Shockwave Therapy may be one option within a broader treatment plan.

At Kinetic Chiropractic, our goal is to understand what's contributing to your symptoms and create a treatment approach that supports your ability to move freely and live fully.

If elbow pain is keeping you from the gym or the activities you enjoy, our team at Kinetic Chiropractic in Pleasant Grove can help you determine the next step.

📞 Phone: 385-256-0603
📧 Email: dr.k@kineticchiropracticutah.com
📍 Address: 405 S 100 E Unit 104, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062, USA
🌐 Website: kineticchiropracticutah.com