Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow, What is it & How to Treat it?
Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow Explained.
There is a form of tendonitis called golfer’s elbow that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm to the elbow. Pain may radiate into your forearm from the bony bump inside your elbow. Rest usually helps. This condition is called medial epicondylitis.
The golfer’s elbow isn’t as well-known as tennis elbow. Tennis elbow results from damage to the tendons on the outside of the elbow, whereas golfer’s elbow is caused by damage to the tendons on the inside
Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow Symptoms
The pain you have with tennis and golfer’s elbow can happen suddenly or gradually over time. Symptoms of golfer’s elbow include:
- You feel stiff in your elbow
- There is usually tenderness on the inner side of your elbow or on the inner side of your forearm.
You could also experience pain when you swing a golf club or make a fist
- Having tingling or numbness in your fingers (usually the ring and little fingers)
- Hand and wrist weakness
Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow Causes
A golfer’s elbow is caused by muscle overuse in forearm, which allow you to grip, rotate your arm, and flex your wrist.
Pulls or tiny tears in the tendons can be caused by repeated flexing, gripping, or swinging.
Golfers are not the only ones affected by this condition. A golfer’s elbow can be caused by repetitive hand, wrist, or forearm movements. In addition to golf, other factors can cause golfer’s elbow:
- Racket sports, such as tennis. Your tendon can be damaged if you don’t use the right techniques when playing or if you use them incorrectly.
- A racket that is too light or too heavy can also cause golfer’s elbow.
- Sports that rely on throwing movements, such as archery, baseball, bowling, football, javelin throwing, and softball.
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow can also result from pitching a ball incorrectly. The condition is sometimes called pitcher’s elbow.
- Movements that are repeated. You can get golfer’s elbow if you’re a carpenter, painter, plumber, or work in construction.
- It is caused by repeated, forceful motions.
- Weight training. Lifting weights improperly can lead to overworking your elbow’s tendons and muscles.
Exercise Tips For Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow
Perform the following exercises two times a day to build strength, alleviate pain, and increase flexibility.
Over time, increase slowly and gradually. Perform these exercises before and after any activity that causes stress. Don’t force movements.
While doing these exercises, you may experience sensations, aches, and slight discomfort, but it shouldn’t go beyond that.
You should stop doing the exercises if you experience pain or your symptoms worsen. Rest completely, and talk to your doctor if you don’t see improvement in a few days.
Isometric Wrist Strengthening (Flexion)
While doing this exercise, keep your body still.
- Lie your affected forearm on a table or the arm of a chair with your palm facing up.
- Grasp your opposite hand with your opposite palm.
- By pressing down with your opposite hand, you create resistance with your affected hand.
- Continue for 10 seconds, gradually increasing the resistance.
- Release gently. Repeat 15 times.
Resisted Wrist Extension
Hold a weight with your affected arm while seated.
- Place your palm facing down on the surface of a table or chair with your forearm resting on the edge.
- After lowering your hand, raise it back to its original position slowly.
- Perform 1–3 sets of 15 repetitions.
Home Treatment
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow usually does not require a doctor’s attention. The pain usually subsides within two weeks when you stop the repetitive activity and rest the arm.
Tennis elbow can be treated at home by:
- Ingesting over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, such as ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
- Soothing the pain with an ice pack, heat pack, or hot water bottle
- To prevent recurrence, learn how to protect joints
You must not rely on the information on this article as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional orthopedists. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this article.