Golfer’s Elbow Explained
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What is Golfer’s Elbow?
The quick answer is that Golfer’s elbow is inflammation or injury to the common flexor tendon near the inside part of the elbow or at the attachment site. It is also known as medial epicondylitis. Golfer’s Elbow can debilitate one’s golf game and lifestyle. This condition occurs when the tendons attached to the medial epicondyle become inflamed from either overworking or an acute injury. These tendons are the prime movers of wrist flexion, a major component of one’s golf swing.
Golfer’s elbow is not limited to the sport of golf. This condition can occur in racquet sports like tennis as well. Individuals at a higher risk include those over 40 years old, who perform repetitive activities for more than 2 hours a day, who are obese, or who are a smoker.
Golfer’s elbow can present with many symptoms such as pain and tenderness, stiffness, weakness, numbness, and tingling. Symptoms can hinder one’s golf swing and restrict everyday activities such as carrying groceries, opening a jar in the kitchen, and using a screwdriver or hammer for household projects.
Golfer’s Elbow can come from activities other than golf. Watch this VIDEO on Golfer’s Elbow Explained.
Golfer’s Elbow Explained
For instance, a tennis player can get a golfer’s elbow from playing tennis. The big difference between golfers elbow and tennis elbow is that golfers elbow is felt on the inside of the elbow, and tennis elbow is felt on the outside of the elbow.
Watch this VIDEO on why Tennis Elbow Can’t Wait for care.
This is because your wrist flexors, which are what is inflamed with golfers elbow, originate on the inside of the elbow. Whereas your wrist extensors, which are inflamed with tennis elbow, develop on the outside of the elbow.
Symptoms of Golfer Elbow:
- Weakness in the hand or wrist
- Numbness or tingling in hand or wrist
- Pain or tenderness on the inside of the elbow or forearm
- Difficulty gripping
The most common golf elbow symptom is pain along the palm side of the forearm that moves along the elbow to the wrist. Discomfort may be present when bending the wrist towards the palm or when squeezing an object. Other symptoms that may be present are tenderness on the inside part of the elbow with palpation. You may also feel stiffness with decreased range of motion. Lastly, you also might have weakness in your hands and wrist.
Will Golf Elbow Heal on its Own?
Quick answer is most of the time, Golfer’s Elbow should heal on its own. Since golfers elbow is a repetitive strain injury, the way that you can heal it is rest and just pure healing time. The best thing to do is to avoid the motion that causes pain. Once the pain and discomfort start to decrease, it’s advisable to return to activity slowly.
How is Golfer’s Elbow Treated?
Treatment for Golfer’s elbow consists of rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, or other modalities such as a medical laser. Once severe symptoms begin to decrease, treatment focuses on stretching and strengthening the wrist flexor tendons. When symptoms and/or medical clearance allows, the next goal is easing back into your activity. Initially, find a way to decrease the elbow load with these activities using an ace bandage or some compression garment.
As symptoms allow, gradually wean off this garment. The focus of reducing the risk of Golfer’s elbow is much like the treatment. Prevention should consist of specific strengthening of the tendons that flex and extend the wrist and stretch the tendons’ specific stretching that flex and extend the wrist. Additional stretching before extended activities is essential as well.
Golfer Elbow Physical Therapy
In some instances, patients try newer treatments such as PRP injections or Medical Laser to help reduce inflammation and aid in the inflammatory process.
Once inflammation begins being addressed, treatment typically consists of physical therapy or occupational therapy focused on improving wrist and forearm flexibility and strength to reduce the stress to the wrist’s tendons.
A common treatment that may aid in improving flexibility is the Graston Technique, which focuses on reducing scar tissue formation and reducing myofascial restrictions to promote optimal tissue mobility and range of motion.
With strengthening, exercises would be focused on improving wrist and forearm strength to allow for activities without increased stress to the forearm/wrist tendons, resulting in inflammation.
In the later stages of physical therapy or occupational therapy biomechanics specific to the sport or recreational activity may be analyzed in order to determine if there are any deficits that may be contributing to golfer’s elbow outside of general strength and flexibility deficits in the elbow, forearm, and/or wrist.
For instance, with a golfer, their golf swing may be analyzed for any deficiencies.
Will a Golfers Elbow Brace Work?
Golfer’s elbow braces may or may not work for each individual. Since there are multiple types of braces on the market, you might have to try each one that works for you. For braces to work properly, they must fit and be placed correctly to decrease pain in the area. To select the correct golfer’s elbow brace, please go to this GOLFERS ELBOW BRACE ARTICLE.
Golfers elbow brace may help with the pain.
Best Exercises for Golfers Elbow
Golfer’s Elbow Exercises – Stretching and Strengthening
Stretching and strengthening are important parts of the rehabilitation process and should begin as soon as pain allows.
Wrist flexor stretch:
Wrist Flexor Stretch
•Hold stretches for 10 – 15 seconds
•Stretches should be held for up to 40 seconds.
•Repeat stretches 5 times and aims to try at least three times a day
Isometric wrist strengthening (extension)
Isometric wrist strengthening (extension)
•While seated, place your affected forearm on a table or the arm of a chair with your palm facing down.
•Place your opposite hand on the back of your affected hand.
•Press your affected hand up, using your opposite hand to create resistance by pressing down.
•Continue for 10 seconds, slowly increasing the resistance.
•Complete 15 reps.
Isometric wrist strengthening (flexion)
Isometric wrist strengthening (flexion)
•While seated, rest your affected forearm on a table or the arm of a chair with your palm facing up.
•Press your opposite palm into your affected hand.
•Press your affected hand upwards as you use your opposite hand to create resistance by pressing down.
•Continue for 10 seconds, slowly increasing the resistance.
•Complete 15 reps.
Resisted wrist extension
Resisted wrist extension
•While seated, hold a weight (start light) with your affected arm.
•Place your forearm on a table or the arm of a chair with your hand over the edge and your palm facing down.
•Slowly lower your hand down before raising it back to the original position.
•Complete 1–3 sets of 15 reps.
Resisted wrist flexion
Resisted wrist flexion
•While seated, hold a weight ( start light ) with your affected arm.
•Place your forearm on a table or the arm of a chair with your hand over the edge and your palm facing up.
•Slowly lower your hand down before raising it back to the original position.
•Complete 1–3 sets of 15 reps.
Golfer’s Elbow Treatment
Although Golfer’s elbow can be a debilitating injury that can limit tolerance of ADL’s, recreational activities, and sports, it should be known that there are many successful conservative treatment options to return one to these activities without limitations and reduced risk of injury/re-injury.
Related Links:
If you have elbow pain or think you may have Golfer’s Elbow, the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute can help. To see a JOI Orthopedic Specialist, call 904-JOI-2000 or schedule online, or click the link below. To schedule an appointment with JOI Rehab at one of the 12 JOI Rehab Centers, please call 904-858-7045.
By: Robert Lim, PTA