Golfer’s Elbow

You don’t have to swing a golf club to develop golfer’s elbow. You can get golfer’s elbow, known as medial epicondylitis, from swinging a tennis racquet, hefting a loaded food tray, hammering nails, or pounding away on your computer keyboard.

Golfer’s elbow is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons connecting your forearm and elbow. When you repeatedly use your wrist and arm to bend, grasp or twist things, your tendons develop tiny tears that can cause wrist, elbow and forearm pain.

Left untreated, golfer’s elbow could cause permanent damage like limiting your elbow’s range of motion, causing chronic pain and weakening your grip.

Who does golfer’s elbow affect?

Less than 1% of the population has golfer’s elbow. It affects men and women between the ages of 45 to 64. Women are more likely than men to develop golfer’s elbow. Approximately 90% of people with golfer’s elbow develop it doing something other than playing sports.

How does golfer’s elbow affect my body?

Golfer’s elbow usually affects your dominant arm. For example, right-handed people develop golfer’s elbow in their right arm. Symptoms usually start as a tender spot on your inner elbow. Golfer’s elbow pain can also radiate up and down your arm.

What’s the difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow?

Like golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow has less to do with a sport than with repeatedly using your wrist and arm to throw, lift or pound. The difference is tennis elbow hurts on the outside of your elbow.