Golfer's Elbow: Understanding Medial Elbow Pain

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre 

If you have pain on the inside of your elbow during activities involving wrist bending, gripping, lifting or carrying, you may be dealing with golfer's elbow. Despite its name, golfer's elbow can affect anyone, not just golfers! 

What Is Golfer's Elbow? 

Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylalgia or epicondylitis) is a condition involving pain and irritation of the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the inside of the elbow (medial epicondyle). It is an overuse of injury that develops when the demands placed on a tendon exceed its capacity to adapt and recover over time (Cook & Purdam, 2009). This could be due to a sudden increase in activity or gradually due to repetitive stress and inadequate recovery. 

It can be aggravated by any motion that loads, flexes, or twists the forearm muscles that control your wrist and fingers. 

Causes and Risk Factors 

• Golf, racquet sports, and throwing sports (high volume and/or poor technique) 

• Repetitive gripping, lifting, or wrist movements (manual labor, sports) 

• Sudden increases in training volume or intensity 

Symptoms 

• Pain, discomfort or tenderness on the inside of the elbow 

• Reduced grip strength 

• Stiffness in the elbow or forearm 

Treatment 

A common misconception is that complete rest is the best treatment. While temporarily reducing aggravating activities may help manage symptoms, prolonged rest can reduce tendon capacity and delay recovery. Current evidence supports a progressive loading approach that helps the tendon adapt and become stronger over time (Malliaras et al., 2013). 

At the Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre treatment may include: 

• Exercise-based rehabilitation: Progressive strengthening exercises help improve the tendon's ability to tolerate load. 

• Activity modification: Adjusting sport, work, or exercise demands while maintaining activity levels. 

• Manual therapy: Hands-on treatment to address stiffness and movement restrictions. 

• Education: Learning how to manage symptoms and return to activity