What is a Golfer’s Elbow?

It is a painful condition where the inner aspect of the patient’s elbow joint is tender to touch and there is restriction of motion at the elbow joint. In medical terminology it is called Medial Epicondylitis. The main reason for this pain is the swelling of tendons (tails of muscles which attach to the bones) of the muscles of the forearm.

 

What causes the tendons to swell?

The tendons usually get swollen when there is excessive movement at the elbow joint. Lack of proper warm up and excessive stress training is the major prerequisite. Golfer’s Elbow is mainly seen as sportsmen who have to perform repeated flexion movements like golf (as the name suggests) Apart from Golf following sports are more prone to cause this problem.

 

• Racket sports, Improper technique with tennis strokes, especially the backhand, can cause injury to the tendon. 
• Throwing sports, Improper pitching technique in baseball or softball, archery and javelin throwing.
• Weight training, Lifting weights using improper technique, such as curling the wrists during a biceps exercise, can overload the elbow muscles and tendons.
• Forceful, repetitive occupational movements. 

What are the symptoms ?

• Pain and tenderness, On the inner side of your elbow. Pain typically worsens with certain movements.
• Stiffness, The movement at the elbow joint feels stiff and difficult to perform.
• Weakness, Difficulty in lifting weights or decreased power in routine physical activity
• Numbness or tingling, Altered sensation can be felt over the affected site.

Home Remedies :

Golfer’s Elbow is not always a serious condition. It can be successfully treat at home in most of the cases. Few useful remedies are:

• Rest
• Icing over the inner aspect of elbow
• Painkillers

When to see a doctor?

It becomes necessary to consult a doctor if the above mentioned remedies fail and you develop the following symptoms:

• Your elbow is hot and inflamed, and you have a fever
• You can’t bend your elbow
• Your elbow looks deformed
• You suspect you’ve broken a bone

How to avoid having a Golfer’s Elbow:

• Proper warmup
• Avoid excessive stress over the muscles of hand and forearm
• Strengthening exercises
• Proper rest between stressful physical activities.

 

 

 

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