Golf Elbow – Common Causes and Treatments

Golfer’s elbow (and Golf Elbow) usually begin off as a dull pain in the inner side of the elbow (the area of your upper arm closest to your torso when your hands are down away from your side). The pain usually worsens as it moves along the forearm and into the hand towards the elbow joint. A small amount of inflammation may be present at the injured site but it usually goes away with time. If left untreated, however, it can spread down to the ulnar artery, the carpal tunnel or even down to the hand near the ankle. If it advances too far, it can result in damage to other structures in the wrist or may even result in arthritis of the wrist.

The mechanics that cause this condition are poorly understood. However, there is a general consensus among medical professionals that golfers are particularly susceptible to injuries to their upper extremity because of their unusual grip on the club. During a swing, the golfer’s dominant hand (right for men) is typically kept palm up while the weaker hand (left for women) is gripped by the small of the palm. This means that the golfer’s little finger is in an unnatural position when they hit the ball. In most cases, golfers will develop golf elbow by using their forearm and hand in an unnatural way when they swing.

A strong ligament, called the medial epicondyle, may also be affected in some cases. In a significant number of golfers, the medial epicondyle does not actually tear, however. Instead, it becomes irritated and inflamed because it becomes irritated during the swing and stays inflamed once the swing is over. Inflammation can eventually become deep and extend all the way down the wrist and into the hand. In these cases, the problem is more serious than simple golf elbow and should be treated accordingly.

Another common cause of golfer’s elbow is tennis elbow. Many golfers, especially seniors, have developed tennis elbow as result of overuse of the wrist muscles. Because the tendon of the rotator cuff is attached to the muscles of the wrist, it is much easier to tear a rotator cuff tendon than it is to heal one. Most rotator cuff tears involve swelling and pain, which decrease the ability of the tissues to move properly. On the other hand, golfer’s elbow can be caused by strains and inflammation of the tendons on the outside of the wrist. Typically, this form of tennis elbow will involve swelling, pain and redness on the outside of the wrist.

A final common cause for golfer’s elbow is tightness of the hamstring. Tight hamstrings are not uncommon among tennis players, especially the seniors who have developed tight muscles as they have aged. The muscles of the hamstring are responsible for flexing the wrist. If a golfer applies a sudden force to his or her hamstring it can lead to tears of the tendons just above or underneath the tendon sheath.

The best way to prevent the development of golf elbow is through a regular program of stretching, strengthening exercises and a reduction in activities that aggravate the injury. In addition to reducing the daily activities that aggravate the injury, a strict stretching routine should be followed in addition to strengthening exercises for the injured area. For instance, a tennis player should never swing a racket if the pain around the forearm extends past the shoulder level. While golfers elbow can be prevented, if the proper precautions are not taken, then the condition could develop into a more serious injury.