Elbow pain after a round of golf, a tennis match, or a long day of household chores can feel sudden, but it often reflects cumulative stress rather than one isolated moment. The elbow is a compact hinge surrounded by tendons, muscles, ligaments, and nerves that must coordinate grip, wrist motion, and forearm rotation. When those tissues are asked to do the same task repeatedly—or to handle a load they are not prepared for—irritation can build in the soft tissues and joint. The result may be soreness, stiffness, weakness, or pain with gripping, lifting, or twisting. This article offers general educational information; it is not a substitute for an individualized evaluation by a qualified clinician.
Why the Elbow Is Vulnerable in Sport and Daily Life
Many elbow problems are described as strains, but that word can cover several different structures. A muscle strain involves overstretching or tearing of muscle fibers. A tendon injury may involve tendinopathy, an irritated or degenerated tendon that struggles with load. Ligament sprains affect the bands that stabilize the joint, while nerve irritation can produce tingling, numbness, or pain that travels into the forearm and hand. The elbow does not work in isolation: the shoulder, wrist, and grip all contribute. Poor shoulder mechanics, a sudden increase in activity, weak grip endurance, or a change in equipment can shift extra load to the elbow.
Golf: The Repetitive Swing and Medial Elbow Load
The golf swing is a whole-body movement, but the elbow can absorb significant force during the backswing, downswing, and impact. The lead elbow—the left elbow for a right-handed golfer—is often exposed to medial stress, especially when the club is gripped tightly or the swing relies heavily on arm action. The trail elbow may experience lateral or posterior stress. Repetitive practice, hitting off mats, excessive grip pressure, and abrupt increases in play volume can all contribute to symptoms. Golfer’s elbow, a general term often used for medial elbow pain, commonly involves the flexor-pronator tendon group, but other structures can be involved. A clinician can help distinguish among tendon, ligament, joint, and nerve sources of pain.
For patients in the San Diego area who are looking for a physiatrist, the Scripps Health physician profile for Roger Kasendorf lists an office on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus in La Jolla. A profile page can be a practical starting point for learning about a physician’s specialties and location, though it does not replace a hands-on clinical evaluation.
His Ortho 1 Medical Group provider page identifies Roger Kasendorf, DO, as a board-certified physiatrist practicing with the group in the San Diego area, with listed locations including San Diego, Carlsbad, and Coronado. His profiles state experience treating acute and chronic pain conditions and sports injuries, which can be relevant when elbow pain is affecting work, sport, or daily activity.
Tennis: Serving, Gripping and Lateral Elbow Stress
Tennis places repeated demands on the elbow through serves, forehands, backhands, volleys, and the constant task of gripping the racquet. Lateral elbow pain—often called tennis elbow—typically involves the extensor tendons on the outside of the elbow, but medial pain can occur as well. Serving and overhead strokes can load the elbow in extension and rotation, while off-center hits and late preparation may send a sharp jolt through the forearm. Racquet grip size, string tension, technique, and training volume are common variables that players and coaches discuss, but pain should not be blamed on equipment alone. Persistent symptoms deserve a proper assessment.
A local Yelp listing for Roger Kasendorf in La Jolla can be a convenient place to find basic contact and location information, but patients should confirm current practice details directly with the office. Online listings are useful for logistics; they are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.
The Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups doctor page for Roger Kasendorf is another directory-style resource where readers can review his specialties and board certifications. For a patient trying to coordinate care in San Diego, that kind of profile can help clarify the scope of practice before making an appointment.
Everyday Tasks That Add Up
Not every elbow strain comes from sport. Gardening, painting, raking, carrying groceries, lifting a toddler, assembling furniture, using a computer mouse for hours, and gripping tools can all create repetitive load. A sudden increase in housework or a weekend project may involve awkward positions, forceful grips, and wrist motion that the elbow is not conditioned for. Even seemingly light tasks become meaningful when they are repeated hundreds of times. In many cases, the issue is not a single activity but a combination of new demands, reduced recovery time, and protective movement patterns that alter how the shoulder and wrist contribute.
His LinkedIn profile for Roger Kasendorf offers a professional overview of his background in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain management. Professional networking pages can be useful for understanding a clinician’s training and roles, although they should be read alongside official practice profiles and direct communication with the office.
On his personal website, Roger Kasendorf states a practice philosophy that patients should finish their visit feeling better than when they arrived. That statement is a philosophy, not a promise of outcome; individual results depend on many factors, including the diagnosis, the tissues involved, and the patient’s overall health and activity demands.
Assessment and Rehabilitation Principles
When elbow pain persists, a clinical evaluation usually begins with a history of the injury and a review of activities, training, work, and equipment. A clinician may examine grip strength, wrist motion, shoulder mechanics, tenderness, and pain with resisted movements. Depending on the presentation, imaging or electrodiagnostic testing may be considered. Rehabilitation for an elbow strain or tendinopathy often emphasizes load management, gradual strengthening, grip and forearm endurance, shoulder and trunk support, and a stepwise return to sport or work. Rest alone may reduce pain temporarily, but complete avoidance can leave the tissues less prepared for future demands. The key is to find the right amount of load—enough to stimulate adaptation, not so much that symptoms flare.
An expert directory member profile for Roger Kasendorf provides another public listing that readers may use to confirm professional background, though it is not a substitute for a clinical assessment. Patients should verify current practice information with the office and use directory listings only as one part of their research.
The OPSC website page about Roger Kasendorf is another professional resource for readers who want to learn more about his background and professional roles. For elbow pain, the more important step is an individualized evaluation that considers the whole upper limb and the patient’s daily demands.
When to Seek Care and How to Prevent Recurrence
Seek medical advice promptly after a direct blow, a fall, a popping sensation, obvious deformity, inability to carry objects, or pain that is severe and unrelenting. Numbness, tingling, weakness in the hand, or pain that wakes you from sleep should also prompt an evaluation. For less severe symptoms, it is still reasonable to seek care when pain persists beyond a week or two, keeps returning, or interferes with work, sport, or sleep. Early guidance can help prevent a minor strain from becoming a longer-term problem.
The Scripps Mercy Physician Partners profile for Roger Kasendorf is a physician directory page that can help patients review his board certifications and practice affiliations. Readers in San Diego who are navigating care options may find such profiles useful, but they should confirm appointment availability and insurance details directly.
Prevention is rarely about one perfect exercise. It is usually about preparing the elbow for the load it will face, increasing activity gradually, and respecting recovery. Golfers and tennis players can review technique with a qualified coach, check grip size and equipment, and avoid sharp spikes in practice volume. Workers and homeowners can alternate tasks, use larger handles or tools that reduce grip force, and take breaks before fatigue changes their mechanics. Strengthening the forearm, shoulder, and upper back can support the elbow, but exercises should be progressed sensibly. A qualified clinician or rehabilitation professional can help tailor a plan to the individual’s symptoms and goals.
Elbow strain from golf, tennis, and everyday tasks is common because the elbow is a hardworking joint with little room for error when loads accumulate. Paying attention to early symptoms, adjusting activity before pain escalates, and seeking qualified care when needed can help protect the joint and support a gradual return to the activities that matter.
Novosibirsk-born data scientist living in Tbilisi for the wine and Wi-Fi. Anton’s specialties span predictive modeling, Georgian polyphonic singing, and sci-fi book dissections. He 3-D prints chess sets and rides a unicycle to coworking spaces—helmet mandatory.