Golfer’s Elbow

What is Golfer's Elbow?

Golfer's elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a condition that causes pain and inflammation on the inner side of your elbow. Despite its name, this injury isn't limited to golfers - it affects anyone who repeatedly uses their wrist and forearm muscles in gripping, twisting, or flexing motions.

The condition involves irritation and degeneration of the tendons that attach your forearm muscles to the bony prominence on the inside of your elbow (medial epicondyle). This can range from mild tendon irritation to more significant tendon breakdown requiring comprehensive rehabilitation.

What Causes Golfer's Elbow?

Golfer's elbow develops from repetitive stress and overuse of the forearm muscles:

Common activities:

  • Golf (particularly poor swing technique or hitting the ground)

  • Racquet sports with excessive topspin or poor technique

  • Rock climbing and bouldering

  • Weight training, especially pull-ups and rowing exercises

  • Repetitive gripping activities (tools, manual labour)

  • Computer work with poor ergonomics

Contributing factors:

  • Sudden increase in activity intensity or duration

  • Poor technique in sport or exercise

  • Inadequate warm-up before activity

  • Muscle imbalances between forearm flexors and extensors

  • Previous elbow injuries

  • Age-related tendon changes (typically 40-60 years)

Risk factors:

  • Occupations involving repetitive hand and wrist movements

  • Sports requiring strong grip strength

  • Poor equipment (grip size, weight)

  • Inadequate rest between training sessions

  • Weak shoulder and core muscles leading to compensation

What Are the Symptoms?

Golfer's elbow typically presents with characteristic pain patterns:

Primary symptoms:

  • Pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow

  • Pain that worsens with gripping or wrist flexion

  • Stiffness in the elbow, particularly in the morning

  • Weakness in grip strength and wrist movements

Activity-related symptoms:

  • Pain when making a fist or gripping objects

  • Discomfort when lifting or carrying items

  • Pain during golf swing, particularly at impact

  • Difficulty with everyday tasks like opening jars or shaking hands

Progressive symptoms:

  • Pain radiating down the forearm towards the wrist

  • Numbness or tingling in the fingers (particularly ring and little finger)

  • Increased pain with resisted wrist flexion

  • Persistent aching even at rest in severe cases

Functional limitations:

  • Reduced performance in sport or work activities

  • Difficulty with lifting and carrying tasks

  • Compensatory movement patterns affecting shoulder and wrist

Struggling with elbow pain? Our specialist team has extensive experience treating overuse injuries in athletes across all sports, from pro golfers to professional fighters. We provide comprehensive assessment, targeted treatment programmes, and technique analysis to address the root cause of your symptoms.