Why does my elbow hurt when turning a door knob?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Elbow pain when turning a doorknob is most often caused by tendon inflammation from overuse, a condition commonly known as tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) or golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis). Repetitive gripping and twisting motions strain the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the elbow, leading to pain, tenderness, and weakness during rotational activities.

Other possible causes include arthritis, nerve compression, or a ligament injury. Because symptoms overlap across conditions, identifying the true cause matters—treatment for a tendon issue differs significantly from treatment for nerve or joint problems. Delaying proper care can prolong pain and worsen function over time.

The fastest way to understand what's driving your elbow pain is to take a free, instant, online symptom check. In just a few minutes, you'll get personalized insights based on your specific symptoms and clear guidance on your next steps—so you can stop guessing and start feeling better sooner.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

When you turn a doorknob, the muscles and tendons in your elbow work together to rotate your arm. These tendons connect the muscles to the bones around the elbow joint. Frequent activities involving twisting or gripping motions can overwork these tendons.

Lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis are two common conditions that can cause this type of pain. In tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), the pain is felt on the outside of the elbow, while golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) causes pain on the inside. These conditions often develop gradually and can make simple tasks like turning doorknobs quite uncomfortable.

Rest, gentle stretching, and targeted exercises can help relieve the pain. If you're experiencing persistent elbow discomfort when performing everyday tasks, try Ubie's free AI symptom checker to better understand your symptoms and determine whether you should seek medical care.

(References)

Welsh P. Tendon neuroplastic training for lateral elbow tendinopathy: 2 case reports. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2018 Aug;62(2):98-104. PMID: 30305765; PMCID: PMC6173218.
Lai WC, Erickson BJ, Mlynarek RA, Wang D. Chronic lateral epicondylitis: challenges and solutions. Open Access J Sports Med. 2018 Oct 30;9:243-251. doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S160974. PMID: 30464656; PMCID: PMC6214594.
Pearce McCarty L 3rd. Approach to Medial Elbow Pain in the Throwing Athlete. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2019 Mar;12(1):30-40. doi: 10.1007/s12178-019-09534-w. PMID: 30739248; PMCID: PMC6388576.

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