What is Golfer's Elbow?

Does your elbow hurt when you grip, lift or play sport?  

If so, you might have Golfer's Elbow!

There are a lot of names used to describe this inner elbow pain: Medial Epicondylitis, Medial Epicondylalgia and Golfer’s Elbow. These are all different names for the same thing, so to avoid confusion, we will use the term Golfer’s Elbow.

Golfer’s Elbow refers to the pain that you will be feeling on the inside of your elbow, which is mostly due to the inflammation of the muscles and tendons that are attached there.  These pass all the way from the wrist to the elbow, so any movements of either can be painful. 

You don’t have to be a professional golfer, amateur golfer, or even to have played golf in your life to suffer from Golfer’s Elbow. In fact, it often occurs in people who perform repetitive movements with their arms, wrist or hands.

The burning question that will be on your lips though, is ‘Why did I get Golfer’s Elbow?

There is actually a very simple answer – when you overload the capacity of these structures to handle the pressure from doing something that is too intense, you are doing it too often or too many times without a break, then it often leads to inflammation. You don’t give your tendons enough time to recover and adapt to the new pressure that you are putting them under.  They get overloaded and this causes the pain that you are feeling. 

What can I do to prevent this? 

1. Warm-Up and Stretching: Always start with a proper warm-up and stretching routine to prepare your muscles and tendons for activity.

2. Strength Training: Incorporate exercises that strengthen the forearm muscles to reduce the risk of injury.

3. Ergonomics: Ensure your equipment and workstations are set up correctly to minimise strain on your tendons.

4. Proper Technique: Focus on using the correct techniques for your activities, whether it's golfing, lifting, or typing. This can significantly reduce the risk of developing Golfer's Elbow.

How do I recover from Golfer’s Elbow?

1. Physiotherapy: Coming to see the Best Clinic in Chester for Sports Injuries, Relive Physiotherapy should certainly be at the top of your list!  We will assess your injury and talk to you about the best plan for getting you out of the pain that you are in and back to the life that you were leading before the pain came.  The treatment plan will be tailored to your needs and will involve you, being designed to take place within your own tolerance and time constraints.  Often the treatment will involve mobilising your elbow to reduce your pain and improve your movements.  There will be a mixture of hands on treatment which will involve massage and soft tissue release as well as Ultrasound and possibly Shockwave treatment.  Your Relive Physiotherapist will talk to you about your options and you will decide what you want your treatment plan to look like. 

2. Corticosteroid Injection: Corticosteroid injections can be an effective treatment for Golfer's Elbow. These injections contain a strong anti-inflammatory medication that can help reduce pain and inflammation in the affected tendons. While corticosteroid injections can provide pain relief, they are generally considered a temporary solution. Long-term management may require Physiotherapy, activity modification, and other treatments.

3. Rest, Icing: Rest from the aggravating activity can often allow the structures to heal, reducing the inflammation and pain in your elbow.

4. Acupuncture/Dry Needling: Acupuncture is known to be an effective method as it stimulates the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers produced by the body. This can effectively reduce pain and discomfort in the affected area. Moreover, Acupuncture has anti-inflammatory effects that can help reduce swelling and inflammation, promoting healing.

When you have Golfer’s Elbow, the recovery will only be as good as the investment you make in it (time, effort, money etc).  You will need to be patient, as this is not a condition where you can feel that you improve in just a couple of sessions.  Whatever the method of treatment you choose (Corticosteroid Injection Therapy, Physiotherapy or a mixture of treatments), it will take time.  

The first step is always to consult with a qualified Physiotherapist (as they will be more useful than your GP for this specific injury) and they can tell you the severity of your injury and the best way to treat it.  Unfortunately, GPs aren’t trained in Musculoskeletal Conditions, so they will refer you to a Physiotherapist or give you painkillers and tell you to rest, which is rarely the best solution.

If you ensure that you follow the right steps to prevent the injury and do the appropriate stretches, you can not only reduce the pain, but also build a stronger and more resilient body that will be less likely to be injured in the first place!