What might cause pain when twisting my elbow?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Pain when twisting your elbow is often caused by strain or injury to the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the elbow. Common conditions include tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), which affects the outer elbow, and golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis), which affects the inner elbow. Repetitive gripping, lifting, or wrist motions typically trigger these injuries, leading to inflammation and pain during rotation.

Because elbow pain can also stem from nerve irritation, arthritis, or ligament issues, identifying the exact cause matters for effective treatment. The fastest way to narrow down what's happening is to take a free, instant, online symptom check. In just a few minutes, you'll get personalized insights based on your specific symptoms, helping you decide whether home care, a physical therapist, or a doctor's visit is the best next step.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover causes of your twisting elbow pain See if twisting elbow pain needs care Find out what’s causing elbow twisting pain Compare OTC options for elbow pain relief Find elbow doctors for twisting elbow pain Learn medically proven home remedies for elbow pain Check if elbow twisting pain needs urgent care

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Explanation

When you twist your elbow and it hurts, it may be because the muscles and tendons that help move your arm are being overworked or stressed. This kind of stress can injure the tendons, which are the tough bands connecting your muscles to your bones. For example, if the pain is on the outside part of your elbow, it might be due to tennis elbow. If it is on the inside, it could be golfer's elbow, called medial epicondylitis. These conditions often occur from doing the same motion repeatedly or improper technique for sports/activities.

Over time, small tears in the tendon may cause pain when you twist or move your elbow. Resting, using a brace or support, and modifying the activity that hurts might help ease the pain. However, if the pain lasts or gets worse, you can use our free AI symptom checker to better understand what might be causing your discomfort before talking with a health care provider who can look at all the details of your situation and offer a more personalized plan.

(References)

InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Overview: Tennis elbow. [Updated 2022 Jul 15]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK506998/
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Overview: Golfer's elbow. [Updated 2022 Jul 15]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507002/
Updated 2024 May 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK557869/

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