Golfer’s Elbow or Medial Epicondylitis

Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons that attach to the inside of the elbow. It is typically caused by repetitive gripping, throwing, or lifting activities, and can also be caused by sudden trauma.

The symptoms of Golfer’s elbow include pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow, stiffness and weakness in the forearm, and numbness or tingling in the fingers. The pain may be felt during gripping, lifting, or twisting motions of the wrist or hand.

To help relieve the symptoms of Golfer’s elbow, treatment options may include rest, ice, physical therapy, and medication. Your physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath may use a combination of techniques to help alleviate your pain, such as manual therapy, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

Some of the best exercises to help with Golfer’s elbow include:

1. Wrist Flexor Stretch: Extend your arm with your palm facing down and gently pull your fingers back with your other hand. Hold for 15-30 seconds and repeat on the other arm.
2. Pronation/Supination with Dumbbell: Hold a light dumbbell and rotate your forearm, keeping your elbow at your side. Do 3 sets of 15 repetitions.
3. Forearm Extension: Hold a light weight or a can of food and extend your wrist upwards, then slowly lower back down. Do 3 sets of 15 repetitions.
4. Reverse Wrist Curl: Hold a light weight or a can of food and extend your wrist downwards, then slowly lower back up. Do 3 sets of 15 repetitions.
5. Eccentric wrist extension with a rubber band: Hold a rubber band between your fingers and extend your wrist up with the band resistance, then slowly lower back down. Do 3 sets of 15 repetitions.

Less common than tennis elbow, this pain on the inside of your elbow is usually aggravated by gripping, flexing your wrist or turning your palm downward, but usually requires some resistance.