What is the top sign of golfer’s elbow?

The top sign of golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is pain on the inside of your elbow. Often, this pain radiates into the forearm, wrist and hand. It can also be triggered by grasping objects like doorknobs or cups. 

Golfer’s elbow is an injury that occurs to an elbow tendon called the medial epicondyle tendon. This condition is less common than tennis elbow, but it does cause up to 20% of all epicondylitis cases. Physical therapists are one type of medical professional that can help you learn what is causing your golfer’s elbow. They can also offer effective medial epicondylitis treatment. 

These factors commonly cause golfer’s elbow

Playing golf with improper swing mechanics can be what is causing your golfer’s elbow. However, golfers aren’t the only people who can develop this painful condition. Other factors that can lead to this injury are: 

• Doing repetitive elbow isolation exercises during weight training. 
• Performing repetitive tasks (e.g., assembly line workers). 
• Having poor form while throwing a ball. 
• Overstressing your elbow during racket sports.

How can physical therapy treat golfer’s elbow?

The elbow is one of many structures in the human musculoskeletal system. It’s this system that physical therapists are specifically trained to treat. There are many treatment techniques that your physical therapist can bring to bear on your golfer’s elbow. Typically, techniques are combined to create a therapy plan that’s customized to your needs. 

A small selection of the therapy methods that could be included in your therapy plan are: 

• Dry needling sessions that can help reduce pain and improve joint function. 

• Therapeutic exercises to strengthen the muscles that support and move your elbows.

• Joint mobilization to improve your elbow joint’s range of motion. 

• Soft tissue mobilization that can reduce tension in the muscles around the affected elbow. 

• Ergonomic recommendations to help prevent future elbow injuries. 

Excel PT offers top-notch golfer’s elbow treatment

You deserve help from a physical therapy team that knows what the most effective golfer’s elbow treatments are. That’s just the type of help our Excel Sports & Physical Therapy team can offer you. We’ll start your treatment process by doing a free screening to learn as much as possible about your condition. Then, our physical therapists will create a therapy plan that’s specifically personalized to your needs. 

Not able to come to an in-clinic therapy session? That’s OK! Our team offers at-home care and virtual therapy sessions that you can do in your home. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat golfer’s elbow or to schedule an initial appointment.