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Golfer's Elbow

This condition is also known as 'thrower's elbow' or medial epicondylitis and is similar to 'tennis elbow' except the symptoms are located on the medial (inner) side of the elbow. The problem arises from the medial epicondyle where the flexor muscles of the forearm attach. The sufferer feels pain on the medial aspect of the elbow with referred pain into the wrist and fingers and even up into the shoulder.

Golfer's elbow is much less common thn tennis elbow. It is most prevalent in 'throwing' sports such as javelin, cricket, baseball and racket sports. A right-handed golf player may be unfortunate enough to suffer from tennis elbow in the leading left elbow and golfer's elbow in the following right elbow.

If you do play golf then try not to spend more than an hour at a driving range and rest frequently. Try to have regular massage and apply self-massage before and after playing, at the first sign of tenderness. Strengthen your forearm muscles with regular exercise.

Golfer Elbow Treatment

Golfer's elbow requires rest and, if the pain is intense, hot and cold therapy - cold therapy only in the acute stages and hot therapy after a couple of days.Compression bandaging and elevation are not necessary.

Massage is invaluable in the treatment of this condition. Effleurage the whole arm and pay particular attention to the forearm. Hold the forearm up from the waist with the arm in an outwardly rotated position so that you can treat the flexor muscles. Apply deep effleurage and friction to this area. Where there is pain in the wrist and fingers massage the hand and wrist.