So how did you get golfer’s elbow in the first place?

On many occasions, the activity of golf itself is the obvious culprit.

If you suddenly increase the number of balls you hit at the driving range or increase the frequency of your sessions there, the resulting increase in volume can trigger inflammation in the elbow.

This falls under the category of “repetitive use” injury.

Another source of repetitive use injury could be a job requirement that forces you to do the same movement over and over again. This could be an elbow rotation or grabbing and pulling movement.

Golfer’s elbow can also be caused by a forceful contraction involving the elbow, wrist, or even fingers such as lifting an excessive amount of weight.

Another common trigger for golfer’s elbow can be trauma.

Every golfer has had the experience of taking a swing at a ball off the fairway only to discover too late that there was a rock or tree root hidden from view. The shock of this impact can shot up the arm and jolt the elbow to the point of injury.

Hitting the ground with too much force a few times in a round can also start the pain cycle.

This plays into a common cause of golfer’s elbow which is related to poor swing technique or poor equipment choices. Correcting technique and getting fitting for the proper clubs can take a significant amount of tension off of this troublesome joint.

Sports requiring a lot of throwing can also cause a golfer’s elbow. This includes baseball, football, and throwing the javelin in track and field.

While not golf-specific, if you participate in these sports in addition to playing golf, you may be setting yourself up.

One cause of this injury that is easily overlooked is the lack of a proper warm-up.

As we mentioned, the tendon and ligaments of the elbow are fairly complex. If you hop out of the car, run to the first tee, and start taking big swings without warming up the wrist, elbows, shoulders, and everything else required for a smooth swing, you’re begging for injury!

Always allow enough time to loosen up. If you’re tight at the first tee, there’s a natural tendency to swing using “all arms” which is another path of golfer’s elbow.

Most people immediately take over-the-counter pain relievers when golfer’s elbow initially strikes.  This makes sense.  However, relying on these pain relievers for the long-term can be a health concern.

Therefore, if you take pain relievers and they don’t put an end to your pain, you should give us a call.

If you can’t bend your elbow or if your elbow is inflamed or looks very swollen, it is recommended you give us a call.  

Now that we know the causes and symptoms of golfer’s elbow, what can you do about it?

We’ve already talked about rest. If you don’t mind putting the clubs away for a while, that could help, but if you’re eager to get back out there, here’s are just some of the pieces of the plan we’ll put together for you.

– Specialized flexibility work

– Specialized strength work

– Proper recovery planning

– Ultrasound

– Laser therapy

– Massage therapy

– Dry Needling

– Active Release Technique