Golfers Elbow – Symptoms and Causes
What Is Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow causes pain on the inside of the elbow where forearm tendons connect to the bone. This pain may extend down into the forearm and wrist.
Despite its name, golfer’s elbow affects many people who never play golf. The condition develops from repeated wrist movements or finger gripping.
Tennis players and others who use these motions often can develop this problem.
Golfer’s elbow is similar to tennis elbow, but affects the opposite side of the elbow. Tennis elbow causes pain on the outside, while golfer’s elbow hurts on the inside.
Main Signs of Golfer’s Elbow
Golfer’s elbow causes several noticeable symptoms. The most common is pain on the inner side of your elbow, which might spread along your inner forearm.
This pain often gets worse when you move your arm in certain ways.
Your elbow might feel stiff, especially when trying to make a fist. Many people also experience weakness in their hands and wrists.
Some people feel numbness or tingling that spreads into their fingers, particularly the ring and little fingers. This happens when the condition affects nearby nerves.
The pain can begin suddenly after an activity or develop slowly over time. Certain movements, like swinging a golf club, often make the discomfort worse.
When Medical Help Is Needed
See your doctor if your elbow pain doesn’t improve with rest, ice, and pain relievers from the pharmacy.
Get emergency medical care if:
- Your elbow is hot, swollen, and you have a fever
- You cannot bend your elbow
- Your elbow looks deformed or out of place
- You think you might have broken a bone
These symptoms could indicate a more serious problem that needs immediate attention.
Causes
Golfer’s elbow develops when the muscles and tendons that control wrist and finger movements become damaged. This damage typically stems from excessive or repetitive stress, particularly from forceful motions of the wrists and fingers.
Insufficient warmup, poor conditioning, and improper technique during activities can all contribute to this condition.
Many activities beyond golf can trigger golfer’s elbow:
- Racket sports: Using improper backhand technique, excessive topspin, or unsuitable equipment (too heavy or small rackets).
- Throwing activities: Incorrect pitching in baseball/softball or similar motions in football, archery, and javelin.
- Weight training: Improper form, especially wrist curling during biceps exercises.
- Occupational movements: Repetitive, forceful actions in jobs like construction, plumbing, and carpentry.
The development of golfer’s elbow typically requires performing these activities for more than an hour daily over extended periods.
The consistent strain on the tendons and muscles eventually leads to inflammation and pain at the medial epicondyle, where these tissues connect to the bone.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your chance of getting golfer’s elbow:
- Age – People over 40 face a higher risk.
- Repetitive movements – Doing the same activity for more than 2 hours daily.
- Weight – Being obese puts additional stress on your joints.
- Smoking – Tobacco use can impair healing and blood flow.
Prevention
Taking action to prevent golfer’s elbow can save you pain and recovery time. Here are several effective strategies to protect your elbow:
Strengthen Your Forearm Muscles
- Use light weights for simple exercises
- Squeeze a tennis ball regularly
- Build muscle strength to absorb sudden stress
Prepare Before Activities
- Warm up with a short walk or jog
- Perform gentle stretches for your arms and wrists
- Never skip your warm-up routine
Using proper technique is crucial in any sport. Ask a coach or instructor to check your form to avoid putting too much strain on your elbow muscles. This simple step can prevent many injuries.
Equipment matters too. If you play golf, consider switching to lighter graphite clubs instead of older, heavier irons. Tennis players should use rackets with the right grip size and weight distribution to reduce elbow strain.
Lifting Techniques
- Keep your wrist rigid and stable when lifting objects.
- Maintain proper form with free weights.
- Avoid twisting motions that stress the elbow.
Listen to your body’s signals. Rest is one of the most important prevention methods. At the first sign of elbow pain, take a break from activities that might be causing the problem.
Remember that overuse is the main cause of golfer’s elbow. Giving your arm adequate recovery time between activities helps prevent the condition from developing.
With these prevention strategies, you can continue enjoying your favorite activities while keeping your elbows healthy and pain-free.
