Golfer’s elbow
What is Golfer’s elbow?
Golfer’s elbow (medial elbow tendinopathy) is a common condition that can affect daily activities. The good news is that it’s rarely serious, and with the right steps, recovery is possible.
Although it’s often linked to golf, Golfer’s elbow can also affect people who play sports involving throwing (like cricket or baseball), as well as climbers, manual workers, or anyone who puts strain on their elbow. Understanding the condition and using the right strategies can help you recover, no matter how long you’ve had it.
Golfer’s elbow occurs when the tendon connecting the forearm muscles to the inner elbow becomes irritated. These muscles help you grip things, and when the tendon can’t keep up with the demand, it becomes painful.
Symptoms may include:
- Pain and tenderness on the inner elbow, usually over the bone
- Stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity
- Pain during gripping activities, particularly when bending the palm down or rotating the forearm (e.g., opening jars)
- Pain with movements like writing, typing, lifting, pulling, and twisting
- Pain often eases when you start an activity but may increase with continued use
Factors that may play a role in the development of Golfer’s elbow include:
- Sudden increase in activities involving the arm, like gardening or DIY
- Health conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol
- Being overweight, particularly around the middle
- Menopausal changes in women (aged 40-60)
- Inactive lifestyle or smoking
- Stress, illness, or feeling run down
Ask for an Urgent GP Appointment or Call 111 If
The arm is swollen alongside a high temperature or you feel hot and shivery.
Call 999 or go to A+E if:
- You’ve had a recent fall or injury, impacting the arm alongside a change in contours of the elbow or an inability to straighten the elbow
- Arm pain has come on suddenly and it occurs with pressure, heaviness or squeezing across your chest.
4 facts about Golfer’s elbow
It is ok for it to be sore during exercise as you are training a sore area. The tendon needs time to adapt to new activity. Be regular and patient with training and gradually building up over time.
Evidence shows that loading the muscle and tendon (strengthening exercises which challenge them) is the best treatment for Golfer’s elbow.
Prolonged resting is not good for general health or for the health of the tendon. Tendons stay healthy by using them regularly and can work better by gradually using them more over time.
Golfer’s elbow is a “clinical diagnosis”, i.e. one that is made in clinic with you and the physiotherapist, taking a careful history and testing the area. Routine scanning of the area is therefore not required. Scans also don’t predict how much pain you feel, and image findings are often unchanged when people do get better. Scans are usually only needed if you have suffered a traumatic injury such as a fall or when symptoms are atypical.