What to do about Golfer’s Elbow

Let’s talk about golfer’s elbow.

First, what is golfer’s elbow?

Golfer’s elbow is technically inflammation and irritation on the inside part of the elbow, at the forearm flexor tendon. This tendon attaches at a bony area called the medial epicondyle and can become irritated from overuse or from a specific injury.

Is golfer’s elbow actually caused by golfing?

There is some truth to the name. Golfers do place increased stress on the inside of the elbow, especially if they increase their playing volume too quickly without allowing their body time to adapt.

However, golfer’s elbow is not caused by golf alone.

I see many baseball players who develop this condition because throwing places significant stress through the forearm flexor tendon. I also commonly see it in tennis players, pickleball players, and manual laborers such as plumbers or construction workers who repeatedly grip, lift, and use tools.

Any activity that places repeated strain on this tendon can lead to golfer’s elbow.

So what should you do about it?

At a basic level, the goal is to reduce excessive tension and irritation while gradually restoring strength to the tendon without creating more inflammation.

Forearm flexor stretching is a great place to start, and I will link a video here to demonstrate a good one.

I am also a fan of elbow straps, which can help take pressure off the tendon. These are usually most helpful for everyday activities, although they may not be comfortable for throwing or overhead sports.

I will include an example here of what I mean.

Strengthening is another key piece of the puzzle.

I like to begin with isometric exercises because they are usually more tolerable and less painful in the early stages. From there, we progress to eccentric exercises, which research has shown to be very effective for improving tendon health over time.

As symptoms improve, we continue progressing these exercises until they closely match the demands of the person’s sport or daily activities. The goal is to return to full activity without pain or hesitation.

Click the video here to get an idea of exercises and stretches that can be done to help golfer’s elbow. 

This is also one of the conditions that tends to respond very well to soft tissue work in the clinic. Treatments such as dry needling, cupping, joint flossing, and blood flow restriction training can be very helpful for improving tissue quality and speeding up the recovery process when used appropriately.

If you are dealing with golfer’s elbow, try some of the strategies above. If things are not improving, feel free to message us, and we would be happy to help you get back on track.

-Dr. Caleb