Although many people have heard of tennis elbow, golfers are likely more familiar with a similar condition called “golfer’s elbow.” Both affect the tendons in the elbow, causing pain and sometimes limiting activity. The difference is that people who develop tennis elbow experience pain on the outer side of their elbow, while golfer’s elbow affects the inner side of the joint.
Medial epicondylitis, the technical term, is known as golfer’s elbow because many motions in golf put repetitive stress on the tendons on the inside of the elbow, according to experts at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). The most common symptom, inner elbow pain, may travel to the forearm and wrist. People may also experience stiffness and weakened grip strength.
“Golfer’s elbow is an overuse injury involving the tendons that attach the muscles of the forearm to the bone on the inside of the elbow joint,” explains Nicole Angelo, DO, MS, a physiatrist at HSS Westchester in New York and at HSS Stamford in Connecticut. An overuse injury results from repeated stress on a specific part of the body, often from doing too much too soon without adequate rest. “The repeated, strenuous arm movements involved in golf, especially flexing your wrist and rotating your forearm, put strain on the tendons and can lead to injury,” says Dr. Angelo, who enjoys playing golf in her spare time.
Nikki Parten, MOT, OTR/L, CHT, CEAS, an occupational therapist at HSS Florida Rehabilitation and Performance in West Palm Beach, regularly treats people who developed golfer’s elbow after ramping up play too quickly after they retire. “They go from playing one day a week to playing five days a week before their body has had a chance to adjust, and that can lead to injury,” she says.
Treatment for Golfer’s Elbow
The main treatment for golfer’s elbow is to refrain from the sport and rest the elbow until it feels better. Ignoring the pain or trying to play through discomfort can make it worse. “People who recognize their symptoms and are seen by a physician and referred to physical or occupational therapy early usually get better more quickly,” Parten says. “Timely treatment generally leads to better outcomes.”
Anti-inflammatory medication or ice can help relieve discomfort; patients should use a towel as a barrier to protect their skin. If pain persists after two or three weeks, Dr. Angelo recommends consulting a doctor. If symptoms interfere with daily activities, disturb sleep, or cause swelling, numbness or tingling, she recommends making an appointment without delay.
Dr. Angelo often sends patients to physical therapy or prescribes a home exercise program to strengthen and rehabilitate the tendon. Sometimes they wear a brace on their wrist or a strap on their elbow to help with symptoms. It can take weeks or sometimes months to see improvement. Once patients feel better, they are advised to return to play gradually.
Tips to Prevent Golfer’s Elbow
In addition to gradually increasing time on the golf course and paying attention to pain, tips for safe play include a proper warm-up and stretching. “You want to take some light swings and warm up before you take a full swing. Stretching the muscles in your forearm by moving the wrist back and forth can also help prepare you for the sport,” Dr. Angelo explains. “Ensuring that your clubs are the appropriate fit is also important. Sometimes using the lighter or more flexible shaft on the club can reduce strain as well.”
The HSS experts recommend cross-training – performing exercises to improve strength in the forearms and wrist, as well as in the shoulders and the core to reduce stress on the elbows. A balanced training program during the off-season can improve strength and mobility before returning to the golf course, making an injury less likely.
For golfers interested in improving their performance and reducing the risk of injury, the HSS experts recommend consulting a swing coach or a TPI-certified instructor. HSS Golf Analysis offers one such program in New York City that is open to all ages and skill levels.
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