Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Recovery
Exercises
Golfer’s elbow, also known asmedial epicondylitis, is a painful condition that occurs when a tendon near the elbow is subjected to repetitive forces. While this issue may occur in golfers, it can happen to anyone and cause pain that spans from the wrist to the elbow on the inside of your arm.
This article will explain this common condition and will outline the steps to take to get back to normal.
Common CausesCareers involving repetitive grasping or twisting and sports involving throwing or gripping are associated with golfer’s elbow.
Common Causes
Careers involving repetitive grasping or twisting and sports involving throwing or gripping are associated with golfer’s elbow.
Is Inner Elbow Pain a Symptom of Golfer’s Elbow?
There are several distinct symptoms that may indicate you have golfer’s elbow. These include:
The presence of these symptoms often suggests you have medial epicondylitis. However, these complaints can also point to a more serious condition likean avulsion fracture(when a bone fracture attached to a ligament or tendon separates from the rest of the bone) or anulnar collateral ligament injury(injury to a ligament on the inside of the elbow).
Because making the proper diagnosis can be tricky, it is important to see a healthcare provider if you are having any of these symptoms.
Elbow Pain From Lifting: Steps to Relieve Pain
How Does Golfer’s Elbow Happen?
Golfer’s elbow occurs when repetitive movements cause the common flexor tendon to become inflamed (called tendonitis) or damaged (known as tendinosis). This structure connects four wrist andforearm muscles(the pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, and flexor carpi ulnaris) to the inner part of the elbow.
Activities that flex the wrist toward the palm or rotate the forearm to a palm-down position load this tendon. Repetitively making these movements can cause the structure to get acutely irritated or to degenerate over time. Common activities that cause medial epicondylitis include:
How to Treat Golfer’s Elbow Pain
Conservative therapies such as the following are first-line treatments for golfer’s elbow:
Unfortunately, in some cases these first-line treatments are ineffective and more invasive interventions are needed. Among the most widely-utilized options are:
Because of the wide variety of interventions that are available, it is important to work with a trusted medical professional to develop an effective treatment plan.
How to Use Kinesiology Tape to Treat Golfer’s Elbow
What’s the Recovery Time for Golfer’s Elbow?
Around 85% to 95% of people with golfer’s elbow respond to nonsurgical treatments. Unfortunately for these individuals, however, recovery can take time. In fact, the symptoms of medial epicondylitis may persist for up to a year before they fully resolve.
Because this condition can be pesky, it is important to give your initial treatments sufficient time to work. If your pain is not improving after three to 12 months of conservative interventions, your healthcare provider may recommend a surgical procedure to address your symptoms.
What Is Tendonitis and How Long Does It Last?
Physical Therapy, Exercise, and Golfer’s Elbow
After diagnosing you with golfer’s elbow, your healthcare provider will often refer you to physical therapy (PT). Many states and insurance plans may also allow you to access PT directly without a physician’s order.
While in rehab, your therapist will educate you on which movements can aggravate the condition and on appropriate braces to wear. They will also teach you stretching and strengthening techniques to help reduce your pain. Try these common PT exercises:
Wrist Extension Stretch
To do this stretch:
Wrist Flexion Strengthening
To do this exercise:
Pronation and Supination Strengthening
Affording Physical TherapyPhysical therapycan be expensive. Be sure to check with your insurance ahead of time to determine if your provider is in-network. Many therapy clinics also offer cash-pay or income-based discounts to make PT more affordable.
Affording Physical Therapy
Physical therapycan be expensive. Be sure to check with your insurance ahead of time to determine if your provider is in-network. Many therapy clinics also offer cash-pay or income-based discounts to make PT more affordable.
What to Avoid During Golfer’s Elbow Healing
Avoiding these types of movements may help speed up your recovery from golfer’s elbow:
Be sure to work with your physical therapist to identify braces or activity modifications that enhance your ability to heal from golfer’s elbow.
Summary
Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is an overuse condition that affects the inner part of the arm. It occurs when repetitive movements inflame or damage the common flexor tendon near the elbow.
This painful diagnosis is most commonly treated with rest, ice, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections. Occasionally, more invasive treatments like platelet-rich plasma injections or arthroscopic surgery may be needed.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Medial epicondylitis (golfers and baseball elbow).Brady C, Dutta A.Medial epicondylitis and medial elbow pain syndrome: current treatment strategies.J Musculoskelet Disord Treat. 2016;2:014.DeLuca MK, Cage E, Stokey PJ, Ebraheim NA.Medial epicondylitis: current diagnosis and treatment options.Journal of Orthopaedic Reports. 2023;2(3):100172. doi:10.1016/j.jorep.2023.100172Cedars Sinai.Medial epicondylitis (golfer and baseball elbow).American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Therapeutic exercise program for epicondylitis (tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Medial epicondylitis (golfers and baseball elbow).Brady C, Dutta A.Medial epicondylitis and medial elbow pain syndrome: current treatment strategies.J Musculoskelet Disord Treat. 2016;2:014.DeLuca MK, Cage E, Stokey PJ, Ebraheim NA.Medial epicondylitis: current diagnosis and treatment options.Journal of Orthopaedic Reports. 2023;2(3):100172. doi:10.1016/j.jorep.2023.100172Cedars Sinai.Medial epicondylitis (golfer and baseball elbow).American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Therapeutic exercise program for epicondylitis (tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Medial epicondylitis (golfers and baseball elbow).Brady C, Dutta A.Medial epicondylitis and medial elbow pain syndrome: current treatment strategies.J Musculoskelet Disord Treat. 2016;2:014.DeLuca MK, Cage E, Stokey PJ, Ebraheim NA.Medial epicondylitis: current diagnosis and treatment options.Journal of Orthopaedic Reports. 2023;2(3):100172. doi:10.1016/j.jorep.2023.100172Cedars Sinai.Medial epicondylitis (golfer and baseball elbow).American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Therapeutic exercise program for epicondylitis (tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Medial epicondylitis (golfers and baseball elbow).
Brady C, Dutta A.Medial epicondylitis and medial elbow pain syndrome: current treatment strategies.J Musculoskelet Disord Treat. 2016;2:014.
DeLuca MK, Cage E, Stokey PJ, Ebraheim NA.Medial epicondylitis: current diagnosis and treatment options.Journal of Orthopaedic Reports. 2023;2(3):100172. doi:10.1016/j.jorep.2023.100172
Cedars Sinai.Medial epicondylitis (golfer and baseball elbow).
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Therapeutic exercise program for epicondylitis (tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow.
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