What is golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis)?
Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) is a term to describe damage to the tendon (fibrous tissue that connect muscle to bone) that connects to the bony lump on the inside of your elbow (medial epicondyle). The damage to this tendon can result in inflammation.
What causes golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis)?
The tendon injured in golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) is involved in actions where you bend your wrist and fingers. You do not need to be a golf player to develop this injury, other ways that you may develop this injury include:
- Activities that involve repetitive wrist flexion (bending your wrist) such as: Sewing, knitting, using a hammer, digging, Gymnastics, water skiing, weight lifting, badminton, squash
- A sudden increase in the above activities or wrist flexion activity can also be a cause for golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis).
- Or sudden force, for instance by hitting a ball too hard.
Above: Pain or discomfort on the inside area of your elbow may be due to medial epicodylitis, this can occur from repetive movements causing inflmammation.What are the symptoms of golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis)?
Some symptoms that people with golfers elbow experience are listed below:
- Reduced range of movement in the wrist
- Weakness in bending their wrist
- Muscle spasms in their forearm
- Tingling/pins and needles in their lower arm/wrist/hand
- Pain (located approximately 2cm from the bony lump on the inside of your elbow)
- that increases with wrist flexion activity and may disturb sleep
- Tenderness around the inside of their elbow
How is golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) Diagnosed?
At Liverpool Physio, our physiotherapists have enough experience to identify if you have golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) through use of a full assessment. For more information about how Physiotherapy can help treat golfers elbow, or to book an appointment, please contact office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or ring us on 0151 558 0077.
What would a physiotherapy assessment for golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) involve?
In order to give you the best treatment, our physiotherapists at Liverpool Physio aim to gain all the information they can. Your first appointment with us would consist of an assessment divided into two parts.
Subjective
A discussion between you and our physiotherapist to work out the cause of your injury, what symptoms you are experiencing, whether anything makes these symptoms reduce and how your injury is affecting you and your lifestyle.
Objective
An assessment of your range of pain, range of movement, tenderness in the area, a series of special tests to rule out other injuries and muscle tests to identify the presence golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis).
What would physiotherapy treatment for golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) involve?
At Liverpool Physio, our physiotherapists have a large range of treatments available for golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis). Some examples of treatment you may receive include:
- Advice on activity modification
- Soft tissue massage
- Electrotherapy ??? for pain relief and healing
- Exercises for flexibility and strength in your forearm muscles
- Ice treatments
- Heat treatments
- Advice on pain relief
- Taping
- Splinting
How can I arrange a physiotherapy assessment for golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis)?
If you are experiencing persistent pain around your elbow, one of our experienced physiotherapists will be happy to see you for an assessment. You can contact us directly to arrange an assessment and we can advise you if further treatment is recommended, or give you details on self-management for minor cases. To arrange an appointment please office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or ring us on 0151 558 0077.
Summary
Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) is an injury caused by excess force through a tendon involved in wrist flexion, and will cause prolonged pain if left untreated. At Liverpool Physio we want to ensure you get the best treatment for your injury and we will use massage, electrotherapy, exercises and stretches to help you recover. For more information about how Physiotherapy can help treat golfers elbow, or to book an appointment, please contact office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or ring us on 0151 558 0077.
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