Golfer's Elbow - Medial Epicondylitis Treatment in Northern Indiana

What is Golfer’s Elbow?

Golfer's elbow is a condition that causes pain where the tendons of your forearm muscles connect to the bony bump on the inside of your elbow. You might feel pain in your forearm and wrist as well.

Golfer's elbow is similar to tennis elbow, which occurs on the outside of the elbow. It isn't just for golfers, it can also happen to tennis players and other people who use their wrists repetitively.

golfer's elbow

Golfer’s Elbow Symptoms

Golfer's elbow signs and symptoms include:

  • Pain and tenderness - This is usually felt on the inner side of your elbow, the pain sometimes extends along the inner side of your forearm. Usually, certain movements make the pain worse
  • Stiffness - Your elbow may feel stiff, and making a fist might hurt
  • Weakness - Your hands and wrists might feel weak
  • Feeling numb or tingling - These feelings can spread to one or more fingers, usually the ring finger and the little finger

Pain from golfer's elbow can start quickly or slowly. Some things, like swinging a golf club, could make the pain worse.

What Causes Golfer’s Elbow?

Golfer's elbow, also called medial epicondylitis, happens when the muscles and tendons that move your wrist and fingers get hurt. Most of the time, the damage is caused by too much or too much-repeated stress, especially forceful wrist and finger movements. Golfer's elbow can also be caused by the wrong way to lift, throw, or hit, as well as by not warming up enough or not being in good shape.

Golfer's elbow can be caused by many activities and jobs besides golf, such as:

  • Racket sports - When tennis strokes, especially the backhand, are done wrong, the tendon can get hurt. Too much topspin and using a racket that is too small or too heavy can also hurt you
  • Sports with throwing - Another cause can be bad pitching technique in baseball or softball. Golfer's elbow can also happen when you play football, shoot an arrow, or throw a javelin
  • Working with weights - When lifting weights with bad form, like curling the wrists during a biceps exercise, the elbow muscles and tendons can get overworked
  • Forceful, repetitive movements at work - These happen in fields like building, plumbing, and woodworking

Golfer's elbow usually happens when the activity is done for more than an hour a day for several days.

Golfer’s Elbow Treatment

The first step in treatment is to stop activities that cause pain and discomfort. Below are some of the many treatment options, if you are suffering from golfer’s elbow.

Golfer’s Elbow Care in Michiana

Contact the skilled and experienced orthopedic providers at OSMC to begin your healing journey and find relief from your elbow pain. You can call OSMC at (574)319-0475 or book your appointment. We hope to see you at one of our eight convenient locations. We serve patients from Michiana (Northern Indiana) and the Southwest Michigan area.