You don’t have to play golf to suffer from “golfer’s elbow.” (Photo: Getty)
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As the golfing season begins, it’s important to understand “golfer’s elbow” correctly. While its name suggests it’s caused by golfing, this condition, medically known as medial epicondylitis, can result from a variety of non-golf activities.
What Is Golfer’s Elbow
Understanding golfer’s elbow requires a look at upper arm anatomy. The condition involves the humerus, the upper arm bone extending from shoulder to elbow, where it joins the radius and ulna to form the elbow joint. At this joint, two bony protrusions, called epicondyles, are present: the lateral epicondyle on the elbow’s outer side and the medial epicondyle on the inner side, as illustrated in the following diagram:
Muscle injury and tear in tendon at elbow area from twisting and motions. Illustration about medical and science.
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The suffix “-itis” denotes inflammation, so medial epicondylitis means inflammation of the medial epicondyle. Conversely, lateral epicondylitis, inflammation of the lateral epicondyle, is commonly known as “tennis elbow.”
Symptoms of golfer’s elbow typically include pain and tenderness on the inner elbow and stiffness. Certain movements, like swinging a golf club, can worsen the pain. Symptoms may also affect the hands and wrists, causing weakness, numbness, and tingling.
What Causes Golfer’s Elbow
The symptoms of golfer’s elbow can extend to the hands and wrists because these areas are involved in the condition. Flexing the wrist or gripping objects engages forearm muscles like the pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, and flexor-pronator mass, which are connected by tendons to the humerus’s medial epicondyle. Repetitive movements can overuse these muscles, leading to tendon damage and inflammation.
Excessive wrist flexing can occur when throwing objects such as balls or javelins or when swinging items like golf clubs or tennis rackets. Over-gripping objects or using improperly sized or weighted equipment can also overstrain forearm muscles. Weak or tight forearm muscles can increase susceptibility to golfer’s elbow, especially if they are not regularly strengthened or if proper stretching and warming up before activities are neglected.
How Do You Treat Golfer’s Elbow
Addressing the causes of golfer’s elbow is crucial for treatment. Stretching exercises for the forearm and wrist are vital. Examples include:
- Making a fist and flexing your wrist
- Making a fist and rotating it side to side
- Supinating and pronating your wrist
- Extending your wrist with your arm straight out
The AskDoctorJo YouTube channel provides demonstrations of these exercises.
When dealing with golfer’s elbow, remember RIP: rest, ice, and pain relievers. Rest can involve taking a break from the activity causing the issue or reducing its intensity. Ice the inner elbow for 15 to 20 minutes, three to four times daily, to avoid skin damage or frostbite. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers like ibuprofen can also be beneficial.
Surgery is generally unnecessary unless other treatments fail. Procedures like TENEX can remove scar tissue if needed, but surgery should be a last resort.
Gradually resume regular activities over time, monitoring symptoms. Have an expert review your technique in activities like golf or tennis to ensure proper form and prevent further injury.
