Can You Get Golfer’s Elbow Without Playing Golf?.

Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is inflammation of the medial epicondyle, the bony bump on the inside of your elbow where the tendons of your forearm flexor muscles attach. It’s commonly seen in golfers, but despite the name, you don’t have to play golf to develop it.

What Causes Golfer’s Elbow?

The most common cause is overuse, especially repeated and forceful movements of the wrist and fingers. It can also result from direct trauma to the area. Over time, this damages the muscles and tendons that control finger and wrist movement, leading to inflammation and pain on the inside of the elbow.

Golfers often develop it from gripping or swinging a club incorrectly, but plenty of other activities can cause the same injury. Throwing sports like baseball, football, and javelin can lead to golfer’s elbow when technique is off. Racquet sports can cause it too, especially with equipment that’s too small or too heavy, or with excessive topspin. Weightlifting is another common cause, particularly curling the wrists during bicep curls, which overloads the tendons and muscles of the elbow.

Golfer’s elbow isn’t limited to athletes, either. Any repetitive activity involving the hands, wrists, or arms can lead to it, including hammering, raking, typing, and painting, if done repeatedly over an extended period. Being over age 35, being male, carrying excess weight, and smoking all raise your risk.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Golfer’s elbow can come on gradually or all at once. Common symptoms include pain or tenderness on the inside of the elbow, mild discomfort with elbow movement that’s especially noticeable when gripping tightly, increasing stiffness and soreness, weakened grip strength, and numbness or tingling in one or more fingers, usually the ring and pinky fingers. Everyday tasks like shaking hands, turning doorknobs, or grabbing and lifting can become difficult.

A physical therapist can usually diagnose golfer’s elbow with a thorough history and physical exam. In some cases, an x-ray may be recommended to rule out a fracture, and in rare instances, more advanced imaging like an MRI may be used.

Treatment and Prevention

Left untreated, golfer’s elbow can lead to chronic elbow pain, reduced range of motion, and in some cases a permanent contracture, so it’s worth starting treatment as soon as possible. The first step is rest, giving the elbow a break from whatever aggravated it. Icing the area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, for the first few days helps with pain and swelling. After about three days, switching to moist heat for 20 minutes at a time can help improve blood flow.

From there, a physical therapist may use manual therapy along with modalities like ultrasound or interferential therapy to support healing, and will teach you stretching and strengthening exercises for the area. They’ll also show you how to reduce the load on your elbow tendons as you return to your usual activities, guiding a gradual return and suggesting modifications to lower your risk of re-injury.

To help prevent golfer’s elbow in the first place, focus on strengthening your forearm muscles, stretching before repetitive activities, using proper form, using the right equipment for your sport, lifting with good technique, and taking a break at the first sign of elbow pain.