Miles Bennett
Golfer's elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm and elbow. It is caused by repeatedly bending, grasping, or twisting the wrist and arm, leading to tiny tears in the tendons that result in wrist, elbow, and forearm pain. While it is commonly associated with golf, it can also occur in other sports such as tennis and baseball, as well as activities like carrying a heavy suitcase or using a chainsaw. Treatment options include rest, physical therapy, bracing, injections, and surgery in rare cases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medical term | Medial epicondylitis |
| Other names | Baseball elbow, suitcase elbow, forehand tennis elbow, pitcher's elbow, tendinosis, epicondylalgia |
| Cause | Overuse injury involving the tendons that attach the muscles of the forearm to the bone on the inside of the elbow joint |
| Symptoms | Pain from the elbow to the wrist on the inside (medial side) of the elbow, elbow stiffness, weakness, numbness, or tingling |
| Treatment | Resting the arm, physical therapy, bracing, injections, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), surgery (rare) |
| Prevention | Minimizing load/stress on the area, using proper equipment and form when playing sports, allowing adequate rest time for tendons to recover |
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What You'll Learn
Golf elbow tendonitis causes
Golf elbow tendonitis, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm and elbow. It is an overuse injury involving the tendons that attach the muscles of the forearm to the bone on the inside of the elbow joint. It is caused by repeatedly using the wrist and arm to bend, grasp or twist things, leading to tiny tears in the tendons that result in wrist, elbow and forearm pain.
Medial epicondylitis is characterised by pain from the elbow to the wrist on the inside (medial side) of the elbow. This pain is caused by damage to the tendons that bend the wrist towards the palm. The excessive force used to bend the wrist can happen when swinging a golf club, pitching a baseball, or serving with great force in tennis. Other possible causes include carrying a heavy suitcase, swinging a tennis racquet, hefting a loaded food tray, hammering nails, using a chainsaw, or pounding away on a computer keyboard.
Golf elbow tendonitis usually affects the dominant arm, for example, the right arm of a right-handed person. It is more common in novice golfers who have an incorrect weight shift and tend to "throw the club down" at the ball, increasing the stress on the muscles on the inside of the forearm. The condition can also be caused by acute trauma, such as a sudden violent contraction of the muscles or a traumatic blow.
To prevent golf elbow tendonitis, it is important to minimise the load and stress placed on the affected area. When starting a new activity that involves loading the area, it should be done gradually, with adequate rest time for the tendon to recover. For golfers, using proper equipment and maintaining the proper swinging form can help prevent injury.
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Golf elbow tendonitis symptoms
Golf elbow tendonitis, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm and elbow. It is an overuse injury involving the tendons that attach the muscles of the forearm to the bone on the inside of the elbow joint. It is caused by repeatedly bending, grasping, or twisting things with the wrist and arm, which leads to the development of tiny tears in the tendons.
The most common symptom of medial epicondylitis is pain along the palm side of the forearm, from the elbow to the wrist, specifically on the same side as the little finger. This pain can be felt when bending the wrist towards the palm against resistance or when squeezing a rubber ball. It is often worse in the morning and with forearm motion, gripping, or throwing. Patients may also experience elbow stiffness, weakness, numbness, or tingling, most commonly in an ulnar nerve distribution. Up to 20% of patients report ulnar nerve symptoms.
In acute cases, there may be swelling, erythema, or warmth around the affected area. Patients will also have tenderness over the distal and anterior aspect of the medial epicondyle, especially near the conjoined tendon or muscles such as the pronator teres and flexor carpi radialis. Resisted pronation or flexion of the wrist will elicit pain, and the patient may experience weakness in the affected arm. However, the range of motion is typically normal.
Golf elbow tendonitis usually affects the dominant arm. For example, right-handed people typically develop golfer's elbow in their right arm. It is important to note that golfer's elbow can develop from various activities that involve repeated bending, grasping, or twisting movements, such as tennis, carrying a heavy suitcase, or using a hammer.
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Golf elbow tendonitis diagnosis
Golfers elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm and elbow. It is caused by repeatedly bending, grasping or twisting the wrist and arm, which develops tiny tears in the tendons that cause wrist, elbow and forearm pain. It is important to get a diagnosis from a doctor, who will likely ask about the activities that cause the pain and examine the arm for specific movements and positions that cause pain.
The diagnostic evaluation of medial epicondylitis is primarily clinical and involves an active and passive component. The active component involves the patient resisting wrist flexion with the arm in extension and supination. The passive component includes wrist extension with the elbow in extension. The test is positive when the patient experiences pain. Other tests include Tinel's test, which is used to evaluate ulnar neuropathy, and stressing the ulnar collateral ligament, which is especially important for throwing athletes.
The patient will likely experience tenderness over the five to ten millimetres distal and anterior to the medial epicondyle, especially near the conjoined tendon or muscles including pronator teres and flexor carpi radialis. The patient may also be weak in the affected arm, although the range of motion is typically normal. The pain caused by medial epicondylitis is usually felt along the palm side of the forearm, from the elbow to the wrist, on the same side as the little finger. The pain can be felt when bending the wrist towards the palm against resistance, or when squeezing a rubber ball.
It is important to note that symptoms of medial epicondylitis may resemble other medical problems or conditions. Therefore, it is always recommended to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
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Golf elbow tendonitis treatment
Golf elbow tendonitis, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm and elbow. It is an overuse injury caused by repeated strenuous arm movements involving wrist flexion, forearm pronation, or gripping.
Rest and Physical Therapy
The first step in treating golfer's elbow is to give your arm a break. It is recommended to rest your arm for at least four to six weeks before resuming any sports or daily activities that strain your arm. Physical therapy can also help stimulate nerve endings and pressure points to promote healing and reduce pain.
Therapeutic Injections
If rest and physical therapy do not provide sufficient relief, your doctor may suggest therapeutic injections. Cortisone injections can help reduce inflammation and provide short-term benefits. However, there is a concern that cortisone can potentially weaken muscle and tendon tissue. Another option is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, which involve isolating growth factors from your own blood and injecting them into the tendon. PRP is thought to be less damaging to the tendon than cortisone and has shown benefits in some patients.
Investigational Therapies
Other investigational therapies that may be considered include nitroglycerin patches, tenotomy, or extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Tenotomy can be performed using ultrasound guidance for more precision in repairing tendon damage. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is another option to relieve pain.
Surgery
In rare cases, if there is no improvement after six to 12 months of conservative treatment, surgery may be recommended. However, most people recover from golfer's elbow without the need for surgery.
It is important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your specific condition.
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Golf elbow tendonitis prevention
Golf elbow tendonitis, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm and elbow. It is an overuse injury caused by repeated strenuous arm movements involving wrist flexion, forearm pronation, or gripping. This can happen not only in golf but also in tennis, baseball, or everyday activities like carrying a heavy suitcase, chopping wood, or using a keyboard.
To prevent golf elbow tendonitis, it is crucial to minimise the load and stress placed on the affected area. When starting a new activity that may strain the tendons, it is important to do so gradually and allow adequate rest for tendon recovery. For golfers, this means ensuring proper equipment usage and swinging form, considering lessons and club fittings to avoid excessive strain, and gradually progressing swing volume during the golf season.
Additionally, evaluating wrist motion during activities is essential to prevent excessive flexion or pronation. A balanced training program during the off-season can improve the mobility and strength required for the golf swing, reducing the risk of injury. Proper weight transfer during the swing is also critical, as incorrect weight shifting can increase stress on the forearm muscles.
Finally, if symptoms of golf elbow tendonitis persist despite rest and physical therapy, various treatment options are available, including massage, ultrasound-guided percutaneous tenotomy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and investigational therapies like PRP injections, nitroglycerin patches, or extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Surgery is rarely required, but it may be considered if symptoms persist for 6 to 12 months without improvement.
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Frequently asked questions
Golfer's elbow tendonitis, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm and elbow. It is caused by repeatedly bending, grasping or twisting things with your wrist and arm, which causes tiny tears in the tendons.
The most common symptom of golfer's elbow tendonitis is pain along the palm side of the forearm, from the elbow to the wrist, on the same side as the little finger. The pain can be felt when bending the wrist towards the palm against resistance or when squeezing a rubber ball. Other symptoms include elbow stiffness, weakness, numbness, and tingling.
The treatment for golfer's elbow tendonitis involves stopping the activity that causes the symptoms and allowing the tendon to rest. Physical therapy, bracing, and injections can also be used to manage the condition. In rare cases, surgery may be recommended if other treatments are ineffective.
