Golfer’s Elbow – Symptoms, Causes, and Recovery
Pain on the inside of the elbow when gripping, lifting, or swinging a club? Despite the name, you don’t have to play golf to develop golfer’s elbow. It’s a common overuse injury we see in both sporting and everyday activities, and with the right physiotherapy approach, recovery is very achievable.
What Is Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is medically known as Medial epicondylitis.
It involves irritation or degeneration of the tendons that attach to the medial epicondyle (the bony bump on the inside of your elbow). These tendons help control:
Wrist flexion
Forearm rotation
Grip strength
When they’re overloaded repeatedly without adequate recovery, pain develops.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms usually come on gradually and may include:
Pain or tenderness on the inside of the elbow
Discomfort when gripping, lifting, or twisting
Pain with activities like:
Golf swings
Lifting kettles or shopping bags
Using tools
Typing or prolonged mouse use
Morning stiffness around the elbow
Reduced grip strength
Pain may sometimes travel down the forearm towards the wrist.
What Causes Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is typically caused by repetitive overload, not a single injury. Common contributing factors include:
Sudden increase in training or playing time
Poor technique or grip mechanics
Weak forearm, shoulder, or upper back muscles
Reduced wrist mobility
Prolonged desk or manual work
Inadequate recovery between sessions
It’s particularly common in golfers, racket sport players, gym-goers, and manual workers.
Is It Inflammation?
Despite the “-itis” in the name, golfer’s elbow is often not an inflammatory condition, especially if symptoms have been present for more than a few weeks.
It’s better described as a tendon overload problem, where the tendon’s ability to tolerate load has been exceeded.
This is why rest alone rarely fixes it.
Physiotherapy Treatment & Recovery
1. Load Management (Not Total Rest)
Completely stopping all activity isn’t usually necessary , but modifying load is crucial. This may include:
Reducing aggravating activities temporarily
Adjusting training volume or technique
Avoiding repetitive gripping early on
2. Progressive Strengthening (Key to Recovery)
The most important part of rehab is graded strengthening. This focuses on:
Wrist flexor strengthening
Forearm endurance
Grip strength
Shoulder and scapular stability
Tendons respond best to progressive loading, not passive treatments alone.
3. Addressing Contributing Factors
Physiotherapy looks beyond the elbow itself:
Wrist and shoulder mobility
Upper limb movement patterns
Sport or work technique
Equipment (grip size, club, racket, desk setup)
Treating the elbow in isolation often leads to recurrence.
4. Pain Relief Strategies
Depending on irritability, this may include:
Manual therapy
Taping or bracing (short-term)
Heat or ice (symptom relief only)
These support rehab, they don’t replace strengthening.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
Recovery time varies, but generally:
Mild cases: 6–8 weeks
Long-standing cases: 3–6 months
Consistency with exercises is the biggest predictor of success.
When Should You Seek Help?
You should consider physiotherapy if:
Pain persists beyond 2–3 weeks
Grip strength is reducing
Pain is affecting sport, work, or sleep
You’ve tried rest but symptoms keep returning
Early management prevents chronic tendon pain.
Final Thoughts
Golfer’s elbow doesn’t mean you have to give up your sport or daily activities. With the right combination of load management, strengthening, and technique correction, most people make a full return.
Physiotherapy isn’t about just calming pain, it’s about building a stronger, more resilient tendon so the problem doesn’t keep coming back.
📞 Reach out today or book your assessment online and take the first step in your recovery.
Clinic Director, Aileen Maguire, is a keen golfer herself, so she understands first hand the challenges and injuries golfers can face. She helps golfers stay at their best on the course.
Golf Performance & Injury Clinic
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