Golfer’s Elbow

(Medial Epicondylitis)

What is golfer’s elbow?

Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) is a painful inflammation of the bony bump on the inner side of the elbow.

The elbow joint is made up of the three bones

  • humerus – upper arm bone
  • ulna – forearm bone
  • radius – forearm bone

The bony bumps at the bottom of the humerus are called the epicondyles. The bump on the side closest to the body is called the medial epicondyle.

The tendons of the muscles that work to bend your wrist attach at the medial epicondyle.

Also known as

  • Medial epicondylitis
  • Wrist flexor tendonitis
  • Elbow tendonitis

Golfer’s elbow is caused by overuse of the muscles that bend your fingers and wrist. When these muscles are overused, the tendons are repeatedly pulled where they attach to the bone. As a result, the tendons get inflamed and pain ensues.

Symptoms

Aching over the inner bony bump of the elbow. This may especially occur when the golf club misses the ball and hits the ground instead! 

Weakness when gripping objects

Tingling, pain or numbness in part of the hand.

Causes 

Golfer’s elbow is caused by overuse of the muscles that bend your fingers and wrist. When these muscles are overused, the tendons are repeatedly pulled where they attach to the bone. As a result, the tendons get inflamed. This commonly happens in sports such as golf, in throwing sports, and in racquet sports. It may also happen in work activities like carpentry or typing. If you have had tendonitis for a long time, scar tissue may develop in the tendon. This is called tendinosis.

Risk Factors

The following may contribute to the development of Golfer’s elbow:

Inadequate warming up prior to sporting activities

Improper technique during sporting activities

Incorrectly sized sporting equipment

Poor forearm flexibility

Investigations

Diagnosis of Golfer’s elbow is generally made on the basis of a clinical examination. 

Occasionally, imaging of the elbow is required, especially to look for other conditions that may mimic Golfer’s elbow. This may include:

X-ray – this gives a picture of bony structures in the elbow

Bone scan – this can show up stress fractures if they are suspected to be present

Complications

Occasionally, Golfer’s elbow may result in:

Persistent pain or weakness

Rupture of muscles at the elbow (this is very rare)

Treatment 

Common ways to treat golfer’s elbow are: 

  • Put ice packs on the elbow for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 or 3 days, or until the pain goes away. 
  • Do ice massage by freezing water in a Styrofoam cup, peeling the top of the cup away to expose the ice and holding onto the bottom of the cup while you rub the ice over your elbow for 5 to 10 minutes. 
  • Elevate the elbow when you are sitting or lying down. 
  • Wrap an elastic bandage around the elbow to help keep it from swelling. 
  • Wear a tennis elbow strap just below the tender spot on the elbow. This allows the forearm muscles to pull against the strap instead of against the bone. 
  • Take an anti-inflammatory medicine or get a shot of a steroid medicine in the elbow to reduce the inflammation. 
  • While you recover from your injury, you will need to change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, walk instead of playing golf, or write things out by hand instead of typing. 
  • Do elbow exercises as recommended by your provider. In severe cases, you may need surgery. 
  • You can return to sporting activities as pain allows

Seeking Advice

Your Family Doctor (GP)

Your Family Doctor will be able to diagnose and help treat your problem. He or she will be able to

  • tell you about your problem
  • advise you of the best treatment methods
  • prescribe you medications
  • and if necessary, refer you to Specialists (Consultants) for further treatment

Prevention 

The best way to prevent Golfer’s elbow is to warm up prior to competition with stretches, then warming down post-exercise. Ensuring proper equipment usage and technique are vital in the prevention of this condition.

F.A.Q. | Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the effects last?

The length of recovery depends on many factors such as your age, health, and if you have had a previous injury. Recovery time also depends on the severity of the injury. A mild injury may recover within a few weeks, whereas a severe injury may take 6 weeks or longer to recover. This problem can sometimes be long-lasting and can even come back once you are better. You need to stop doing the activities that cause pain until the elbow has healed. If you keep doing activities that cause pain, your symptoms will return and it will take longer to recover. 

When can I return to my normal activities? 

Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. Return to your activities depends on how soon your elbow recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better. The goal is to return to your normal activities as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury. You may return when you are able to forcefully grip a bat or golf club, or do activities such as working at a keyboard without pain in your elbow. It is important that there is no swelling around your injured elbow and that it is as strong as the uninjured elbow. You must have full range of motion of your elbow.