Golfer’s Elbow also known as “medial epicondylitis” is an inflammation of the tendons that originates from the medial elbow side.
The pain sensation can be local or spread along the forearm till down the wrist.
Indeed, Golfer’s Elbow is similar to a tennis elbow, which occurs on the lateral side of the elbow.
Both these conditions are not limited to those who play golf or tennis but can affect anyone who does repetitive movement their for usually builds pain usually builds up with time and can get quite intense if the condition is not looked after.
Therefore, rest, massage and specific exercises are well recommended.
Golfer’s Elbow Symptoms
- Pain: The area of pain as described above is around the medial side of the elbow and can spread down the forearm to the wrist
- Stiffness: The area of inflammation controls the forearm flexors, indeed, making a fist or flexing the fingers/wrist can be difficult or painful. Even the elbow can feel stiff in movement.
- Weakness: Due to the pain, you may experience weakness in the affected arm/forearm
- Numbness or tingling: Along the medial side of the elbow, pass the Ulnar nerve, which can refer to the ring finger and pinky finger with numbness or tingling sensation.
Risk factors for Golfer’s Elbow
Here below is the risk factors list for Golfer’s Elbow:
- Age 40 or older
- Doing repetitive movement of wrist/elbow daily
- Obese
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Golfer’s Elbow Treatment Option
The treatment options for Golfer’s Elbow are many.
Along Melbourne Massage and Treatment Services, MLD can be the least invasive and recommended.
The gentle touch and repetitive mechanical stimulation of the cutaneous nervous system can help reduce inflammation, stimulate relaxation, and reduce swellings in the area.
Said so, as MLD can have several absolute and partial contraindications.
This treatment can not be applied to all.
So other services such as Myotherapy, Remedial Massage or Thai Massage are more recommended.
The treatment would aim to work on the surrounding area of the inflamed tendon to improve the tone of the forearm flexors.
Medications such as anti-inflammatories can also be considered for this condition, especially when rest is impossible due to work commitments.
Therefore, you better talk to your GP about the medication option.