Living Smart: Finding a cure for ‘golfer’s elbow’

If you are a golfer and notice pain on the inner side of your elbow, you might be experiencing medial epicondylitis, or “golfer’s elbow.”

It is similar to tennis elbow, but it occurs on the inside as opposed to the outside of the elbow. The pain appears where the tendons of the forearm muscles attach to the bone, and may spread into the forearm and wrist.

Tennis players and golfers develop these pains as a result of repetitive use of the wrists and fingers.

The pain doesn’t have to keep you off the course for long, as rest and treatment may solve the problem.

Symptoms and treatment

In addition to pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow, your elbow may feel stiff and it might be painful to make a fist. Some people have weakness in the hands and wrists and may feel a numbness or a tingling sensation that spreads into the fingers.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should rest the elbow and take a break from golf. Activities such as swinging a club, squeezing a ball, shaking hands, or turning a doorknob can aggravate the condition.

Ice the effected area for 15-20 minutes several times daily and use an over-the-counter pain reliever.

You might try wrapping the elbow or supporting it with a sling to relieve strain. Stretching and strengthening exercises may also be helpful.

Rehabbing your elbow

Always contact your physician if the problem continues for more than a few days, or if pain relievers and ice don’t seem reduce the discomfort. Seek immediate attention if you have a fever or the elbow is inflamed, rigid, or if it looks deformed.

Exercises may help by stretching the muscles and encouraging pain-free movement of the elbow.

Following are a few simple stretches and exercises recommended by the Sports Medicine Department at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Perform all exercises once or twice daily.

Wrist flexor stretch:

Extend your arm forward with the palm up and elbow straight. With your opposite hand, grasp your fingers and draw back until you feel a stretch in the forearm. Hold for five seconds and repeat 10 times.

Wrist extensor stretch:

Extend your arm forward with the palm down and elbow straight. With your opposite hand, grasp your hand and draw it down until you feel a stretch in the forearm. Hold for five seconds and repeat 10 times.

Wrist extension exercise:

Rest your forearm on a table with the palm facing down while seated. Grasp a light dumbbell (1-2 pounds) and lift the hand up while keeping the arm in contact with the table. Hold for a few seconds and relax for a few seconds. Repeat five to 10 times.

Prevention

Of course, the best course of action is prevention.

Problems with your golf swing may cause you to overload your wrist and forearm muscles. Ask your golf instructor to check your grip and swing technique.

Lifting light weights or squeezing a tennis ball will help strengthen your forearm muscles.

Also, it is smart to warm up with light aerobic activity and stretch for a few minutes before you play a round of golf.

For more information and tips about sports injuries and how to prevent them, check out http://sportsmedicine.upmc.com.

Green Valley resident Ann Sirianni is a certified fitness trainer. Contact her at 465-1221 or gvfitness@cox.net.