Golf elbow (Medial epicondylitis)
Rehab training for the injury

Rehab 1 – Rehab 2 – Rehab 3 – Rehab 4

Description of the golf elbow

Golf elbow also called medial epicondylitis is caused by repeated overloading of the flexor muscles of the fingers and inwards rotators (pronators) of forearm. Golf elbow may result in increasing pain located at the innermost bone protrusion (medial epicondyle of the humerus) and the pain may radiate down the front of the forearm. If the overload is exacerbated, it will result in micro-tears / ruptures of the common tendon where the different muscles meet and insert (medial epicondyle -i.e. caput commune of the flexor muscles).

Symptoms of golf elbow
  • Pain on the inside of the elbow.
  • Pain at the bone protrusion of the inside of the elbow (medial epicondyle of the humerus).
  • Pain at the front of the forearm.
  • Weakness of the flexor muscles (which bend the wrist).
  • Possible weakness in pronation (inwards rotation of hand/forearm).
  • Soreness during flexion/bending of the wrist.
  • Grasping soreness, possibly while grasping a coffee cup or door knob.
Examination for golf elbow
  • Analysis / Inspection / Palpation / Movement Test Range of Motion (ROM).
  • Palpating the bone protrusion of the inside of the elbow (medial epicondyle of the humerus).
  • Palpation of the front of the forearm.
  • Wrist flexion/ bending against resistance.
  • Forearm pronation / inwards rotation against resistance.
  • Valgus test of cubiti articulares (stability of the elbow).
  • Tinel’s test of the ulnar nerve in the cubital joint (art. Cubiti) (reflex test of elbow).
Treatment for golf elbow
  • Rest 3-4 days.
  • Thermo / heat therapy.
  • Cryotherapy (is on for 9 min.).
  • TENS of the forearm flexors.
  • Massaging forearm.
  • NSAID gel (hand-bought) Traumeel (2tabl. 3 g. daily for 9 days).
  • Ultrasound (continuous / pulsating), 3 Mhz, 0.5-1 W cm2.
  • Compression tape at the top of the forearm.
  • Kinesiology tape
  • K-Laser.
  • Brace / taping of the wrist in neutral position.
  • Elbow and forearm stretching 10 times daily.
  • When acute pain is gone, rehab 1 is recommended
  • Possible operation (about 5-10%) where the muscles are moved from the epicondyle and further down the forearm.
Rehab training for the injury

Rehab 1 – Rehab 2 – Rehab 3 – Rehab 4