Guide To Golfer's Elbow
Medial epicondylitis is commonly called golfer's elbow or thrower's elbow. Inflammation, discomfort, and irritability occur in the tendons on the inside of the forearm, resulting in this condition. Golfer's elbow is caused by overuse of the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. People with this problem are often seen to be swinging a golf club or other things repeatedly. In addition to using a computer or doing yard labour, this might lead to the condition. It's especially dangerous for athletes who do a lot of overhead work, as well as for carpenters and plumbers. In males, golfer's elbow is more frequent beyond the age of 35 than it is in younger ones. Unlike tennis elbow, it is not as frequent (lateral epicondylitis). For those suffering from medial epicondylitis, a physiotherapist at Phoenix Physio Clinic can assist alleviate discomfort and increase the elbow's range of motion and strength.
What Is Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)?
Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) arises when the tendons on the inside of the forearm become irritated, inflamed, and painful as a result of frequent usage of the hand, wrist, and forearm. The soft tissue that connects a muscle to a bone is known as a tendon. As the name suggests, golfer's elbow is caused by a set of muscles that flex (bend) and pronate (turn or hold) the wrist and forearm such that the palm is pointing downward.
The humerus bone is attached to the muscle group via a shared sheath (the bone in your upper arm). Stabilising the elbow and allowing wrist mobility are both achieved by this muscle group's distribution over the elbow and wrist. The medial epicondyle, a bony protrusion on the inside of the elbow, gets its name from its location. This hump, where your forearm muscles' tendons attach to the bone, often causes discomfort. The tendon may become inflamed and painful if it is subjected to repeated stress. These stresses may cause the tendon to break away from the bone if they are not treated. Two-joint tendons have a greater risk of damage.
How Does It Feel?
People with golfer's elbow may experience:
- Pain along the inside of the forearm with wrist, hand, or elbow movements.
- Pain or numbness and tingling that radiates from the inside of the elbow into the hand and fingers when gripping or squeezing.
- Tenderness to touch and swelling along the inside of the forearm.
- Weakness in the hand and forearm when gripping objects.
- Elbow stiffness.
How Is It Diagnosed?
A complete assessment by our physiotherapist will be performed. Every symptom you're experiencing will be discussed in detail. Your physiotherapist could:
- Perform strength and motion tests on your wrist, forearm, and elbow.
- Ask about your job duties and hobbies.
- Evaluate your posture.
- Check for any muscle imbalances and weakness that can occur along the path from your shoulder blade to your hand.
- Gently touch your elbow in specific areas to find out which tendon or tendons may be inflamed.
- Conduct special muscle tests as needed, such as bending the wrist or rotating the forearm with resistance to confirm a diagnosis.
How Physiotherapist Can Help
Golfer's elbow should be treated as soon as possible. An untreated inflamed tendon might rip because it lacks an adequate blood supply. One of the most dangerous consequences of this is possible.
When it comes to golfer's elbow, your physiotherapist will work with you to design a treatment plan that is tailored to your unique condition and objectives. Among the options for your individualised treatment plan are:
Pain management: Our physiotherapist will assist you in recognising and avoiding any unpleasant movements. Inflamed tendons may heal if they are avoided. They may utilise or suggest that you see:
- Shockwave Therapy
- Interferential Current Therapy
- Dry Needling
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Bracing or splinting
In extreme circumstances, you may have to stop working or participating in sports if you are still experiencing discomfort. Continuing to engage in these activities might slow down your recuperation. Opioids, for example, are seldom prescribed by physiotherapists since they have extensive training in non-pharmacological methods of pain treatment.
Manual Therapy: Muscles may be rehabilitated using manual treatments by our physical therapist. Included on this list:
- Mildly moving the joints.
- A massage focusing on the soft tissues.
- Stretches for the elbow, forearm, and wrist.
- The use of various manual stretching and other thoracic spine-relaxing treatments may help. It's possible that muscular imbalances throughout the elbow-related chain of muscles and connective tissue might influence these locations.
Range-of-motion Exercises: You will learn mobility exercises and self-stretches to help your elbow and wrist maintain proper movement.
Strengthening Exercises: As your discomfort subsides, our physiotherapist will advise you on the best activities for you to do. After completing a formal physical therapy programme, they will build a home-exercise regimen for you to continue. Maintaining your arm, forearm, elbow, and hand strength may be achieved by doing these exercises on a regular basis. If you have a medical issue, the workouts they recommend will be tailored to your needs. The following are examples of possible workouts:
- Isometric exercises (muscle contractions).
- Resistance exercises to challenge weaker muscles (using weights, medicine balls, or resistance bands).
Patient Education: Understanding your ailment and its likely origins is an essential element of recovery. Your physiotherapist may advise you to alter the way you carry out certain activities. They may also give you advice on how to improve your sports technique in order to avoid injury. It's possible to lessen the strain on your forearm tendons by making little changes to your golf swing, throwing technique, or job duties.
How to Prevent Golfer’s Elbow
Preventing medial epicondylitis may be as simple as being conscious of your everyday activities and being aware of your risk of injury. Individuals have to do the following:
- Use proper form and technique when doing repetitive work tasks or sports movements, like golf swings.
- Maintain shoulder, forearm, and wrist muscle strength.
- Perform gentle forearm muscle stretches before and after performing tasks.
- Use proper posture and body mechanics when lifting heavy objects to reduce joint strain.