Calling All Golfer’s: The Elbow pain Blues
By: Kelsie Mazur, DPT
“Happy, the gold jacket’s yours… Shooter’s gonna choke”- thats right folks, we are starting this weeks blog post out with a quote, from the one and only Happy Gilmore. So let’s get into the ins and outs of Golfer’s elbow.
What is Golfer’s Elbow?
You’ve probably heard of “tennis elbow,” but what about “golfer’s elbow”? While they sound similar, golfer’s elbow is a completely different condition that affects the inside of your elbow.
Golfer’s elbow, also called medial epicondylitis, happens when the tendons on the inside of your elbow get irritated or inflamed. These tendons are responsible for helping you bend your wrist and fingers, and when they get overused or injured, they can become painful. The pain is usually felt on the inside of the elbow, and it might even travel down the forearm to the wrist.
Who Gets Golfer’s Elbow?
Although this condition is commonly associated with golfers (for obvious reasons), it’s not just a sport-specific issue. Anyone can get golfer’s elbow, in fact, it’s more common in people who do repetitive activities that strain the same muscles in the forearm. Here are some examples:
Golfers: Repeated swinging motions put a lot of stress on the inside of the elbow.
Tennis Players: Yes, even tennis players can get it—just like they get tennis elbow, but on the other side of the arm!
People who lift weights: Particularly those who do lots of curling or pushing motions.
Carpenters, painters, or anyone with repetitive hand and wrist motions (like using a hammer or brush) might be at risk too.
Desk workers or anyone who uses a mouse for hours: Believe it or not, typing and clicking can also put stress on your elbow.
In short: anyone who does repetitive tasks with their hands and wrists, particularly those that involve gripping and bending your wrist. BUT a very important fact I want the readers to know is that usually elbow pain is often developed due to poor shoulder mechanics or a stiff thoracic spine, which can place excessive strain on the forearm muscles and tendons. When the shoulder lacks stability or mobility, the elbow compensates, leading to overuse and irritation of the tendons. Similarly, a restricted thoracic spine can alter movement patterns, increasing stress on the elbow during repetitive activities.
Golfer’s elbow is typically caused by repetitive stress or overuse. Here’s how it happens:
When you perform repetitive actions (like swinging a golf club, lifting weights, or hammering), your muscles and tendons in the forearm are constantly working to stabilize and move your wrist. Over time, these muscles and tendons can become overstretched, inflamed, and even tear in small places. This repeated stress causes pain and discomfort on the inside of the elbow.
How Do You Get Rid of Golfer’s Elbow?
Good news: Golfer’s elbow usually gets better with the right treatment! Here’s what you can do to heal it:
The is the number one thing you can do first and foremost is notify a physical therapist that you're experiencing this problem. PT is the gold standard or first line of defense for tendinopathies of any kind, including golfer’s elbow. Your physical therapist at Wattage will first tell you to Rest… not rest from lifting, but rather, give your elbow some time off from the activities that cause the pain. If you’re lifting weights, we can modify a but to keep you lifting on the turf and making those gains. Golf or tennis on the other hand…. We will most definitely rest entirely from those until you’re in the clear, and your physical therapist gradually increases your capacity with the racquet or golf club. This rest period looks different for everyone. After the initial pain and inflammation go down, gentle stretching and strengthening exercises can help restore normal function. These exercises might look different for everyone depending on their history and where exactly the elbow is being bothered. An expert of anatomy, aka a physical therapist will figure out a detailed, personalized treatment plan to free you from that nagging elbow pain,
Common Myth’s about what will actually get rid of elbow pain:
Let’s talk about injections, ice, and dry needling. The RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate) method has been largely debunked, as research shows that icing delays the body's natural inflammatory process, which is essential for tissue healing. While ice may temporarily relieve pain, it is not recommended for golfer’s elbow, as it can slow down recovery rather than support proper healing. How about injections? Quick easy fix right…… WRONG. (Sidenote: nothing worth having or gaining is ever easy in life nor is it an easy fix). Research has shown that cortisone or steroid injections provide little to no long-term benefit for elbow tendinopathies and may even be harmful. While they can temporarily reduce pain by suppressing inflammation, studies indicate that they do not promote true tendon healing and can actually weaken tendon structure over time. Instead, focusing on load management, proper movement mechanics, and progressive strengthening is a more effective approach for long-term recovery.
Common Truths that will improve your elbow pain:
For those with chronic or severe symptoms, using a brace or an elbow strap can help relieve tension on the tendons and provide support while you heal, but this type of brace is highly specific and again a conversation with your DPT will warrant which kind of brace is best, and when to wear the brace. Second, deep dry needling to the elbow tendon can help accelerate healing by stimulating blood flow, reducing muscle tension, and decreasing pain sensitivity. ALL of my patients with elbow tendinopathies receive dry needling in this area, and I bet if we took a poll, they would all say it helped immensely. By targeting trigger points and dysfunctional tissue, needling promotes a natural healing response, encouraging the tendon to repair itself more efficiently. Many patients experience significant relief and improved function, making it a valuable tool in treating elbow tendinopathies.
Whew, lots of things to digest in this week's blog. If you have any questions, or maybe you have chronic elbow pain, never hesitate to reach out to me, Kelsie, or your personal trainer.
Did you know that we offer free 1-on-1 injury screens? Wattage Physical Therapy will take an in depth look at your ergonomics, posture, muscle tone, muscle weaknesses, and movement patterns to create a plan for YOU. If this article intrigues you, you can directly email me, Kelsie at Kelsie@wattagept.com. I would be happy to help you start the process of living a life free from pain.