What Is Golfer's Elbow?
Golfer's Elbow is the name given to pain at the inside of the elbow where your forearm muscles attach to your arm. We now call this pain Medial Epicondylitis.
The muscles in this area of your arm form a common tendon which attaches to bony point at the inside of the elbow. These muscles primarily flex the wrist. They primarily become sore through overuse.
For golfers, swing mechanics can trigger the pain in this area. This is why it is so important to assess the whole upper limb - wrist, elbow and shoulder, as well as spinal rotation, to see if the pain is caused by a weakness in the elbow itself, or by a restriction elsewhere which is leading to an altered swing.
What Are The Symptoms Of Golfers Elbow?
The class symptom of Golfer's Elbow is pain at the inside of the elbow. This pain is quite localised to, and below, the bony prominence at the medial aspect of the elbow.
It can be very sore to palpate / poke this area. It can also be very difficult to fully flex and extend the wrist, patient's often complain of pain lifting / holding something heavy. Here are some of the other common symptoms which we see
- Pain lifting everyday objects.
- Pain carrying heavy item like golf bag or shopping.
- Pain twisting / turning the wrist - like twisting your key or using a screw driver.
- Pain lifting weights in the gym.
- Pain playing golf - can be during your swing or after your round.
This pain may be caused by weakness / stiffness in your wrist and elbow, it may be caused by poor swing mechanics, by a sudden increase in your golfing frequency or it may be caused by restrictions or tightness elsewhere in your body leading to a compromised swing. At RAPID we strive to find the Root Cause of your Golfer's Elbow and not just treat the symptoms.
Treatment For Golfer's Elbow
The first step to treating your Golfer's Elbow is to get it assessed by one of our expert Chartered Physiotherapists.
At RAPID we complete an extremely thorough assessment in order to get the most definite diagnosis possible and in order to provide you with the most complete plan to full recovery. Your individual treatment will be dependent on your injury and the results of our assessment.
Most Golfer's Elbow treatment will involve a comprehensive assessment of your elbow, wrist and swing mechanics. It will involve progressive rehabilitation program with expert exercises to fix your pain, improve your everyday function and help your swing.
Other Treatments We Offer
We at RAPID are experts when it comes to Golf Strength and Conditioning. With over 200 5-Star Reviews you can be sure you are in good hands!
Here are some of the other conditions which we regularly see and treat:
Every golfer is constantly looking to improve their golf swing. Without being able to move your body correctly it is hard to make the progress that you're seeking. Mike is an expert at finding where each individual is strong and maybe not so strong. He goes above and beyond to pinpoint specific movements and exercises that will help you improve your weaker areas, while all the time explaining why and how this improves specific parts of your golf swing. His ability to merge Physiotherapy with functional golf movements is second to none. Within 3 months of working with RAPID I noticed a complete change in my balance and power throughout my swing, along with adding 5-mph club head speed. I cannot recommend RAPID enough, Mike is the best physio in Dublin.
I have been working with RAPID for a number of months and I have found Mike's knowledge of the golf swing and ability to explain the process that is required to enable me to swing the golf club better, excellent. I would highly recommend RAPID to anyone that is interested in improving their strength and flexibility required for their golf game.
I attended RAPID based off a suggestion from my golf coach as Mike had experience coaching golfers. Throughout my sessions, Mike swapped seamlessly from golf-specific principles to very general physiotherapy principles. Similarly, he was equally able to give detailed explanations/analysis in areas I had some background knowledge and very basic, easy to understand answers in others. Mike's demeanour was professional, friendly and engaged. The premises were spacious and the weight lifting equipment was high quality. My range of motion, strength and stability in my shoulder and hips have all improved and so has my understanding.
Mike is very detailed and sets out a program that is easy to follow and suited for your needs. He is easy to work with and has genuine interest in his clients. Since attending RAPID I have lowered my golf handicap, improved my swing mechanics and increased my swing speed. Thanks Mike.