Articles » Injuries » Injuries of the upper limbs » Golfers Elbow

Golfers Elbow / Medial Epicondylitis

What it Effects

• The muscle belly and tendons of the wrist flexors, originating from the medial epicondyle. Characterised by inflammation

Who it Effects

• Common in adolescents playing games involving throwing activities
• Equally common in men and women
• Common between the age of 30 and 50

Mechanism of Injury

• Repetitive strain over the medial aspect of the elbow, due to repetitive flexion and pronation at the wrist joint. Although often referred to as golfers elbow it does not only affect golf players. It is common among people who perform a lot of overhead activities or repetitive throwing. It is also common after repetitive gripping activities such as prolonged hammering, weight lifting or driving

Signs and Symptoms

• Gradual onset of pain
• Pain over the medial aspect of the elbow (inside of the elbow when your palm is facing up). Pain felt over the medial epicondyle, joint line of the elbow and in the muscle belly of the wrist flexors on palpation
• Pain during gripping activities
• Possible radiating pain down the forearm
• Pain when putting the wrist flexors on passive stretch during wrist extension
• Muscle weakness when testing wrist flexion and pronation
• Pain increased by resisted wrist flexion
• Decreased range of movement
• Decreased sensation in the forearm or hand
• Positive valgus stress test at the elbow

Treatment

• PRICE
• Deep transverse frictions
• Ultrasound
• Maintain and improve range of movement
• Make sure that any objects you have to grip on a regular basis are the right size for you hand
• Stretching the wrist flexors to realign any scar tissue that may have formed due to the nature of the inflammatory process
• Eccentric strengthening program for wrist flexors. The load, repetitions and speed of these eccentric contractions can be altered to progressively increase the work done by the wrist flexors
• Steroid injection by GP (should be combined with exercise program)

Exercise Videos

Range of movement

• Flexion & Extension
• Pronation
• Supination

Stretches

• Golfers elbow stretch

Exercises

• Ball Crush
• Eccentric wrist extension

A registered physiotherapist should follow the treatment of this condition. If you think you have golfers elbow contact your GP/physiotherapist for advice and treatment.

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