Not Just for Athletes: Golfer’s Elbow Can Affect Anyone

August 25, 2022 2:49 pm Published by

golfer elbow

Not a golfer? Believe it or not, you can develop golfer’s elbow even if you’ve never picked up a club. Golfer’s elbow, more formally known as medial epicondylitis, is a form of tendonitis that affects the elbow.

If playing a mean game of golf (or even one significantly over par) isn’t required to develop golfer’s elbow, what causes it? Let’s take a look.

Q: What Causes Golfer’s Elbow?

A: To understand what golfer’s elbow is, it’s helpful to have a little knowledge about the anatomy of the arm. Tendons are the structures that attach muscles to bones. In your arm, tendons in the forearm connect the muscle to the bone on the inner side of the elbow.

Occasionally, tendons anywhere in the body can swell or become inflamed due to an injury or other factor. When this happens, it’s called tendonitis. When this happens in your elbow, it’s called golfer’s elbow.

And no, golf is not required, but it gets its name from the repetitive movements golfers make when swinging their clubs. You may develop this form of tendonitis from any repetitive movement that causes you to use your wrist and arms. It also affects people who participate in other sports involving throwing or lifting, such as baseball, softball and tennis.

Q: Who Else Gets Golfer’s Elbow?

A: The condition affects a small percentage of the population each year—less than 1%—and is most common in those between the ages of 40 and 60.

It’s not exclusively a sports injury either. Even those who don’t play sports can develop the condition if they frequently make bending, twisting or grabbing motions, which cause the tendons in the elbow to tear slightly.

In general, neither the right nor left arm is more likely to develop golfer’s elbow, but the condition most frequently affects your dominant arm.

The cause is repetitive motion, so it isn’t necessarily tied to a particular action. But golfer’s elbow can occur when you make the same motions repeatedly, particularly over a long period of time.

Q: What Does Golfer’s Elbow Feel Like?

A: If you have golfer’s elbow, you may experience a wide range of symptoms affecting the elbow and arm. These can include:

  • Pain on the inside of the elbow and difficulty moving the elbow
  • Stiffness and weakness in the hand or wrist of the affected arm
  • Tingling or numbness in the fingers

While pain normally originates in the elbow, it’s not uncommon for it to radiate down the arm, affecting the wrist and fingers. Every person experiences the discomfort of golfer’s elbow a little differently, so in some cases the pain may feel similar to a strained elbow.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, check in with your primary care provider. He or she can perform a physical examination and a test to diagnose golfer’s elbow. The exam typically involves moving the arm in specific ways to gauge pain.

Q: How Is Golfer’s Elbow Treated?

In most cases, golfer’s elbow will improve after a few weeks with some basic at-home care. Your provider may recommend resting the arm, applying ice, using over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications to alleviate symptoms, and performing strengthening exercises to build up the tendons in the elbow and restore range of motion.

Preventing golfer’s elbow from recurring is also a good idea. If you have developed golfer’s elbow more than once, your provider may also recommend physical therapy to help you adjust your movements to avoid tendonitis flare-ups in the future. This can include making changes to your golf swing if you are a golfer.

After treating golfer’s elbow, using correct form, stretching regularly and building up your arm strength can help prevent it in the future.

If you think you may have golfer’s elbow, the team at Magnolia Regional Health Center’s Orthopaedic Center of Excellence can help with a diagnosis and treatment plan. Get in touch today to schedule an appointment.

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This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center