Golfer’s elbow is a condition identified by pain in the tendons of the forearm where it connects to your elbow. This pain is felt on the inside of your elbow rather than the outside—which would instead be considered “tennis elbow”—can also be felt in the forearm and wrist in more severe cases.

Symptoms
Symptoms of golfer’s elbow may accumulate overtime or may happen very suddenly. They include:
• Pain and tenderness
• Stiffness
• Weakness
• Numbness or tingling

It is important to see a doctor immediately if you begin to experience swelling, heat, and inflammation in your elbow combined with a fever, if you cannot bend your elbow, if your elbow begins to look deformed, or if you suspect that you’ve broken your elbow or other bone in that region.

Causes
Golfer’s elbow is usually caused by excess or repeated stress on the muscles and tendons that control your wrist and fingers. It can be caused by things such as improper lifting, throwing or hitting, sudden stress, or lack of warm up or conditioning your muscles. It can also happen due to forceful repetitive movements mandatory for an occupation (commonly seen in construction, plumbing, and carpentry).

It is called “golfer’s elbow” however, because it is common in many golfers and sports-related activities. These include:
• Racket sports – improper tennis backhand strokes is a serious culprit of this condition as well as using rackets that are too small or too heavy.
• Throwing sports – golfer’s elbow makes common appearances in baseball, softball, football, archery, and javelin.
• Weight training – improper technique while curling or lifting can put stress and tension on the elbow muscles and tendons.

Prevention
You can prevent golfer’s elbow by paying attention to and correcting a few key aspects throughout training or your everyday life. These include:
• Strengthening forearm muscles – use light weights or squeezing motions to strengthen and build muscle. This will help to absorb energy and stress.
• Stretch before activities – you should always get your heart rate up and stretch your body before an activity. Take a walk or a jog and spend time gently stretching and moving your arms around in order to warm them up.
• Fix your form – ensure that you are moving your muscles properly when preforming your activity. This will help your performance as well as well as prevent injury.
• Use the right equipment – use equipment that is suitable for your build. Make sure that all of your equipment fits you and is comfortable to use and hold. If you cannot maintain the weight of your equipment/ athletic tools, it is likely that

If you suffer from golfer’s elbow, Revitamax is here to help. For assistance from a healthcare expert in Etobicoke and Rexdale, call Revitamax Rehab and Wellness at 416.360.8326 or book an appointment on our website.