Golfers Elbow
Golfer’s elbow is similar to tennis elbow, although it affects a different part of the elbow in regards to the inside of it. Despite the name, a tennis player could also pick up this injury, but it mainly affects those who repetitively make throwing actions.
The condition, also known as medial epicondylitis, affects the inner side of the elbow where the tendons are based. As it affects the forearm tendons, it’s not uncommon for sufferers to also experience pain the forearm and also the wrist.
Symptoms
Weakness and pain in the elbow are the main two symptoms of this injury, with the bony part on the inside of the elbow being affected the most. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s only the elbow that will come under pain. The fact is that symptoms can appear around the wrist area as well; with the wrists being weak and any flexion resulting in pain.
The pain in these areas is likely to intensify should any squeezing motion be made or if anything like a club or racquet is swung, hence the name.
Another symptom could be tingling or numbness in the fingers. This seems to affect quite a lot of people with this injury and the sensations usually affects either the ring or little fingers.
Causes
Golfer’s elbow is usually caused through repetitive stress to the muscles and tendons controlling the fingers and wrist. A golfer is one person who can be affected easily, as the swinging motion and the actions of the fingers are exactly the things which can cause this. However, it is possible for sudden forces to the elbow to bring on this injury as well.
Other possible athletes could be those who take part in racquet sports, throwing sports and also activities like painting and hammering. All of the above involve repetitive stress to the muscles and tendons around the elbow and therefore they are at risk.
The repetitive stress of these activities causes the muscles around the wrist to fatigue. This means that the muscles aren’t able to work as effectively, putting more stress onto the tendons which become inflamed and this is where the pain begins.
Treatment
Immediate treatment is a must with golfer’s elbow and the sooner the athlete treats the problem, the quicker rehabilitation will be. The first tip is to rest, which means that no more stress will be put on the elbow area. Should the athlete continue to exercise, there’s a chance that inflammation could worsen and this will result in more pain.
As soon as it’s become apparent that golfer’s elbow is the problem, the athlete should also treat it with ice. This should involve icing the elbow for about 15 minute periods, four times a day for a few days. This is likely to improve the inflammation, which should reduce pain.
To ease the pain, simple over-the-counter medication like Iboprofen and Aspirin should work – but if the problem is not getting better you should visit a sports injury clinic. The physiotherapist is likely to give you a list of stretches and strengthening exercises that will improve the area around the elbow. After a while, they may have to recommend surgery though.
The most important thing to remember is rest though. Golfer’s elbow can last for months and even though it become frustrating not to exercise, if you do put your elbow through any stress your recovery will be prolonged.
Prevention
Golfer’s elbow is an injury that only hits a selection of athletes, hinting that poor technique is a cause. Too much wrist action is often a cause so the first thing you should do is visit an instructor for your specific sport and ask their advice. Chances are they will have dealt with lots of similar problems and will have plenty of tips to help you perfect your technique.
Like with most injuries, being in good condition is always a good recommendation though. If you play a lot of golf, perhaps think about strengthening the forearm muscles which should go some way in preventing this injury. It’s not as though such exercises have to be advanced – you can develop these muscles with the simple method of squeezing a tennis ball.