What is a Golfer's Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is a similar injury to tennis elbow only it affects the inside of the elbow instead.
Golfer’s elbow is more common in throwers and golfers hence the 'nicknames'. Also known as flexor / pronator tendinopathy this elbow pain is seen in tennis players who use a lot of top spin on their forehand shots.1
Symptoms of Golfer's Elbow
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Pain on the bony bit on the inside of the elbow.
- Weakness in the wrist.
- Pain and tenderness in the forearm, especially outside of the elbow (Tennis elbow) and inside of the elbow (Golfer’s elbow);
- Pain and stiffness of muscles in the forearm, upper arm, shoulder or neck;
- Experiencing pain with handshake or simple movements such as moving door handles;
- Stiffness of arm in the mornings.
The test used to verify the presence of golfer’s elbow is resisted flexion of the wrist. To perform this test, a doctor or therapist will ask the client to extend his/her arm toward them and bring the hand down into a flexed position. They will place one hand on top of the client’s wrist to stabilize it and wrap their other hand around the client’s palm. The client will be asked to resist as the doctor or therapist pull with equal force, trying to straighten the hand. If the client experiences pain or discomfort on this test, golfer’s elbow is present.2
Cause of Golfer’s Elbow
As suggested by the term “golfer’s elbow,” the flexor carpi radialis can be strained by swinging a golf club – particularly when a person overuses the wrist or uses too strong a grip. However, golfers constitute only a small segment of the population suffering from this condition. Bikers, movers, tennis players, guitarists, pianists, violinists and people who work out with weights frequently develop golfer’s elbow. This injury also is very common in computer users and frequently is a part of the complex picture in repetitive stress injuries.
Prevention/ Treatment of Golfer's Elbow
The following guidelines are for information purposes only. Seeking
professional advice before beginning rehabilitation is recommended.
Occasional divots may be unavoidable, but you can take steps to prevent Golfer’s Elbow.
- Strengthen your forearm muscles. Use light weights or squeeze a tennis ball. Even simple exercises can help your muscles better absorb the energy of sudden physical stress.
- Stretch before your activity. Walk or jog for a few minutes to warm up your muscles. Then take time for gentle stretching before you begin your game.
- Fix your form. If you golf, ask an instructor to check your grip and swing technique. Swinging the club more slowly or gripping the club with less pressure may decrease the amount of shock in your arm when you hit the ball. A club with a flexible shaft may help, too.
At the first sign of elbow pain, take a break. In addition to self-care measures, time off is often needed to promote healing. After injury has occurred Ice the injury for two days (20 minutes on up to six times a day) and rest.
Massage Therapy
See a sports injury professional or a trained therapist at Advanced Alternatives Massage Therapy who can advise on treatment and rehabilitation.3 Massage therapy can be a highly effective treatment for golfer’s elbow. Special massage therapy techniques manipulate tendons, tissue and muscles in the hand, wrist, forearm, upper arm, shoulder and neck, thus increasing strength and flexibility.
Sources:
- http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=13497
- http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/elbow/golferselbow.htm
- http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00713.html
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