Professional Golfer’s Elbow Treatment
Golfer’s Elbow, or Medial Epicondylitis, is characterized by irritation in the muscles and tendons of the forearm flexors and pronators. A more fitting term for this condition might be Medial Elbow Tendinopathy.
Like other tendinopathy conditions, golfer’s elbow develops through repeated usage of a particular muscle group, in this case the tendons on your inner elbow. If left untreated, golfer’s elbow could lead to pain and disability of these muscles, making it difficult to complete tasks associated with those muscles.
Despite its association with golfers, it is prevalent in other groups as well, including non-athletes. For example, people who frequently swing hammers during their work days are vulnerable to developing golfer’s elbow.
Individuals with golfer’s elbow typically feel pain on the inner side of the elbow (medial epicondyle) during activities like swinging a golf club (with the trailing arm), repetitive gripping, twisting, or throwing.
Golfer’s Elbow Causes
Repeated strain on the forearm flexors and pronators occurs through repetitive high-load or high-speed activities. This includes actions like excessive swinging of a golf club (particularly with the trailing arm), frequent gripping, twisting, or throwing—essentially, engaging in activities that surpass what your body was adequately prepared for.
Golfer’s Elbow Symptoms
Commonly reported symptoms of golfer’s elbow include experiencing pain on the inner side of the elbow. This discomfort is often noticeable when pressure is applied directly to this area or during activities such as gripping, throwing, or stretching of the muscles and tendons in this region.
Golfer’s Elbow Treatment
At Herlong Sports Physical Therapy, addressing golfer’s elbow entails temporarily adjusting factors that exacerbate the condition.
Your physical therapist will design a personalized rehabilitation program aimed at improving the function and resilience of the medial elbow structures, facilitating your return to regular function. This program may involve modalities to alleviate pain and exercises to improve the strength, endurance, and mobility of the elbow, shoulder, and hand structures. The goal is to better prepare you for the physical demands that you will experience in both sports and daily life.
Golfer’s Elbow Exercises
Wrist curls
- Perform with your forearm supported on a table.
- Hold a dumbbell in your hand, palm facing up.
- Lift your knuckles toward the ceiling and then slowly lower them toward the floor.
- Repeat this motion for 10 repetitions, three times a day, three to four days a week.
Wrist Pronation
- Perform with your forearm supported on a table.
- Hold a head-heavy object such as a dumbbell, hammer, or broomstick in your hand, with your thumb and heavy end facing up.
- Rotate your thumb outwards dropping it towards the floor, then rotate it back up to the starting position, thumbs up.
- Repeat this motion for 10 repetitions, three times a day, three to four days a week.