Golfer’s Elbow
Find Relief from Your Pain
Golfer’s elbow, also referred to as medial epicondylitis, is a painful condition that impacts athletes and non-athletes, alike. It occurs when there is inflammation or a partial tear to the area where forearm tendons meet the inside of the elbow.
The injury may be caused by a single traumatic action, but is more often caused by repetitive motions of gripping, twisting or swinging during sports or certain types of work—such as carpentry and plumbing. Many competitive sports place significant strain on the joints of athletes, and the elbow is especially vulnerable to stress, considering the amount of swinging and throwing involved in many popular sports.
Prevention
Reduce your risk.
One of the best ways to avoid elbow problems is to strengthen your forearm muscles and slow your golf swing so that there will be less shock in the arm when the ball is hit.
The following simple exercises can help to build up your forearm muscles and help you avoid golfer’s elbow. For best results, do these exercises during the off-season, as well:● Squeeze a tennis ball. Squeezing an old tennis ball for 5 minutes at a time is a simple, effective exercise that will strengthen your forearm muscles.● Wrist curls. Use a lightweight dumbbell. Lower the weight to the end of your fingers, and then curl the weight back into your palm, followed by curling up your wrist to lift the weight an inch or two higher. Perform 10 repetitions with one arm, and then repeat with the other arm.● Reverse wrist curls. Use a lightweight dumbbell. Place your hands in front of you, palm side down. Using your wrist, lift the weight up and down. Hold the arm that you are exercising above your elbow with your other hand in order to limit the motion to your forearm. Perform 10 repetitions with one arm, and then repeat with the other arm.
Symptoms
Pinpoint your pain.
Symptoms may include:● Tight muscles on the inside forearm● Wrist weakness● Joint tenderness● Radiating pain and burning inside the elbow● SwellingWorsening of elbow pain may occur when grasping objects, bending the hand at the wrist, or twisting the forearm.
Diagnosis
Get the answers you need.
Golfer’s elbow is generally diagnosed after a thorough examination and detailed description of the pain.
Treatment
Life’s too short to put up with pain.
Treatment for golfer’s elbow begins with a conservative approach. The first step is for the patient to discontinue the repetitive motions that are causing golfer’s elbow and to wear a brace to prevent injury aggravation. When pain persists, a cortisone injection may be performed.If these treatment steps fail to resolve golfer’s elbow, our physicians can perform minimally invasive surgery to remove damaged tissue and any bone spurs that have formed. Following surgery, your NJ orthopaedic surgeon will likely prescribe physical therapy to aid in a quick and complete recovery.