Golfer’s elbow

 

What is a golfer’s elbow?

It is a form of tendonitis that causes inflammation and pain in the tendons that connect the elbow and forearm. The center of the pain is on the bony bump that is present inside the elbow and this pain radiates into the forearm. Golfer’s elbow’s pain is usually reduced with rest and is also known as the medial epicondylitis in medical language. Although tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow both are forms of inflammatory responses of elbow tendons it is not as well-known as tennis elbow (Pathak,2020).

What are the symptoms of a golfer’s elbow?

Golfer’s elbow cause pain suddenly or with time. Some symptoms of a golfer’s elbow are as follows:

1. Numbness and tingling in fingers (usually in little and ring fingers).
2. Pain and tenderness usually on the inner side of the forearm or to the inner side of the elbow. But the pain may occur with certain movements like swinging a golf club or making a fist.
3. Weakness in wrist and hands.
4. Stiffness in the elbow joint (Pathak,2020).

What are the causes of the golfer’s elbow?

Overusing the muscles is the most common and major cause of the golfer’s elbow. Muscle movements include flexing the wrist, rotating the arm, and gripping an object. Some common causes of golfer’s elbow are as follows:

• A person who is a plumber, painter, carpenter, or works in the area of construction can get a golfer’s elbow (Pathak,2020).
• Sports in which racket is used like tennis is the major cause of golfer’s elbow. Using rackets incorrectly or not playing with the right techniques can hurt the tendon and cause a golfer’s elbow.
• If any individual is not using the right techniques of lifting objects and works over and over may develop a golfer’s elbow (Pathak,2020).

What are the remedies to get relief from the golfer’s elbow?

The following home remedies can ease the symptoms of the golfer’s elbow and also prevent these symptoms from recurring.

1.Ice and heat treatment:

Use an ice pack or heating pad on the affected area. Cover the area with a towel in order to avoid the direct effect of ice or heat on the skin.

2.Rest:

When symptoms are severe, rest for a few days. Try to avoid performing movements that cause pain

3.Do exercises

Try some simple exercises in mild cases

Exercises for Golfer’s elbow:

There are some exercises that can help to recover from this injury. These exercises will relieve pain, increase blood supply and reduce inflammation in the area of the forearm and elbow.

• Extension of the wrist:

Place the affected forearm on the arm of the chair or on the table with the palm facing down. Place the other hand on the dorsal side of the affected hand. Press the affected hand upward and resist this movement with the opposite hand. Perform this movement for 10 seconds and 15 repetitions (Minnis et al.,2020).

• Flexion of the wrist:

Place the affected forearm on the side of the chair or on the table with the palm towards the ground. Place the affected hand with the other hand. Press the affected hand up and resist this movement with the opposite hand. Continue for 10 seconds and perform 10 repetitions (Minnis et al.,2020).

• Resisted wrist extension:

Place the forearm on the arm of the chair or on the table with hand hanging over the edge of the table and palm facing downward. Slowly lower the hand and then back to the original position. Repeat this movement 10 times (Minnis et al.,2020).

4.Interventional Pain Management

In intractable situations, ultrasound-guided injections or interventions are done. Earlier mostly steroid injections were done. Nowadays platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are mostly done to repair and regenerate the injured tissues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Cronkleton, E. (2019). Golfer’s Elbow: Best Exercises, Plus Treatment and Prevention Tips. Retrieved 25 May 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/exercises-for-golfers-elbow-2#exercise-tips

Pathak, N. (2021). The Basics of Golfer’s Elbow. Retrieved 25 May 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/golfers-elbow-basics