While tendonitis associated with golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow is usually the main culprit, other impact and repetitive strain injuries can cause elbow pain for weightlifters. Some may depend on the kinds of exercises you do and whether or not you practice proper form. However, other unrelated injuries and conditions may cause the pain that affects your weightlifting performance. Some common conditions that can cause elbow pain are as follows. Olecranon bursitis. This occurs when the bursa, a small sack of fluid that sits between the elbow bone and skin becomes irritated and fills with fluid. Also known as “fluid on the elbow,” this can cause pain and soreness. Occasionally olecranon bursitis can be caused by improper or excessive weightlifting but is more commonly caused by impact or infection. Either way, the pain, and resulting limited ROM can interfere with your exercise routine. Radial tunnel syndrome. This condition happens when the radial nerve that runs along the bones and muscles of the forearm becomes compressed, often at the elbow joint. This usually causes pain a couple of inches below the elbow. The pain often increases with activity and can leave you feeling weak. Tendinosis. Often confused with tendonitis and tennis elbow, tendinosis is another overuse condition that can also result from physical trauma. It occurs when the collagen in the tendons degenerates over time. When any motion is made repeatedly without giving the tendons time to rest and recover, they can begin to weaken and break down. The resulting elbow pain, stiffness, and restricted motion are similar to tendonitis symptoms. Elbow osteoarthritis. This happens when the cartilage of the elbow gets worn out or damaged. While the normal wear and tear of cartilage with age and activity is the most common cause of osteoarthritis, elbow osteoarthritis is often the result of a previous elbow injury like a sprain or fracture. This causes pain and limits range of motion.