Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, occurs when the muscles attached to your elbow are inflamed and irritated. The area affected occurs on the inside of your elbow (indentation at your elbow area).
Golfer’s elbow tends to occur on the dominant hand and can happen to anyone regardless of gender. It manifests due to micro-tears at the tendon followed by an insufficient recovery period at the site of inflammation.
Golfer’s elbow occurs due to micro-tears of the tendon, followed by inadequate rehabilitation or recovery.
What causes golfer’s elbow?
A golfer’s elbow is the result of:
Repetitive movement: constant movement of the forearm, usually involving repetitive occupational tasks can cause golfer’s elbow.
Overdoing certain workouts: such as bicep curls with weights that are too heavy and beyond the muscular capacity of your arm.
“Cold muscle”: or too little warmup of the area followed by overexertion of your joints.
Acute trauma: an accident or high-impact object hitting the elbow leading to violent contraction of the muscle.
What are the symptoms of golfer’s elbow?
Symptoms of golfer’s elbow include:
Sharp jolting pain in the elbow
Pain in the elbow when bending or twisting your wrist
Pain when lifting things regardless of weight
Elbow is tender and sensitive to touch
Occasional locked or stiff elbow
Difficulty gripping objects
Pain in the elbow is the main symptom of a golfer’s elbow.
If you notice any of the symptoms, make an appointment with an orthopaedic specialist to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Dr Puah KL is our Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Artisan Sports & Orthopaedic Surgery. He used to serve the sports service of Singapore General Hospital - the highest volume trauma centre for orthopaedics in Singapore.
Yes, the condition is often affiliated with pain. A golfer’s elbow usually resolves by itself, however, if it does not, there is a tendency to worsen over time.
The pain radiates or spreads out from the joint of the elbow. It has also been described as “burning” and “stabbing” pain.
Who is at risk of golfer’s elbow in Singapore?
Golfer’s elbow has a tendency to occur among:
Athletes and hobbyists: certain sets of activities like racket sports, golf, martial arts, and gymming tend to overexert the medial epicondyle.
Manual workers: jobs such as plumbers, carpenters, and construction workers whose work is labour-intensive and involves the usage of tools.
Adults within the age range of 35-55: muscle strength tends to reduce with those in these age groups making them vulnerable to golfer’s elbow.
How is golfer’s elbow diagnosed?
In the event elbow pain worsens a visit to an orthopaedist would be necessary to examine the extent of inflammation and damage to tendons.
Golfer’s elbow is diagnosed using the following:
Physical examination: by physically examining your range of motion and tenderness of area, an orthopaedist would be able to gauge the severity of your condition.
X-ray: if your orthopaedist suspects there may be an incidence of fracture or presentation of arthritis, you would be advised to undergo an x-ray.
Ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): an ultrasound or MRI is only conducted for individuals who are long-term sufferers (6-24 months of unresolved pain).
What are the treatment options for golfer’s elbow in Singapore?
For most individuals, a golfer’s elbow will go away on its own (depending on the cause), however, for individuals who require medical intervention, the following treatment options are available:
Elbow brace/splint: redirects the force caused by motion and allows the site of inflammation to recover.
Anti-inflammatory medication: oral drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed as the first course of treatment.
Physiotherapy: physiotherapyuses gentle and therapeutic exercises to help improve the range of motion and strength of weak muscles.
Surgery: in rare cases, surgery may be advised in which damaged tendons and inflamed tissues are removed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for a golfer’s elbow to resolve?
How to treat a golfer’s elbow at home?
our process
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