Quick Summary
Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) is a degenerative tendinopathy of the tendons that attach to the bony bump on the inner side of your elbow, causing pain that worsens with gripping and wrist movement. It is less common than tennis elbow, but it responds well to conservative care — research shows more than 90% of patients improve without injections or surgery.
At J&J Therapy, we combine manual therapy, a progressive exercise programme and radial shockwave therapy. Research suggests most patients improve over typically 3–6 shockwave sessions alongside their exercise programme, though recovery timelines vary from person to person.
What Is Golfer's Elbow?
Golfer's elbow is pain and tenderness on the inner (medial) side of your elbow, arising from the common flexor–pronator tendons where they attach to the medial epicondyle — the bony bump you can feel on the inside of the joint. Despite the "-itis" name, current evidence shows it is not primarily an inflammatory condition but a degenerative tendinopathy: repetitive wrist bending and forearm rotation create microtrauma faster than the tendon can repair itself.
Under the microscope, the affected tendon shows disorganised collagen and immature repair tissue rather than true inflammation — a pattern first described as angiofibroblastic tendinosis (Kraushaar & Nirschl, Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, 1999). The flexor carpi radialis and pronator teres tendons are most commonly involved.
An important nearby structure is the ulnar nerve, which passes just behind the medial epicondyle. Research suggests around 20% of people with golfer's elbow also have some ulnar nerve irritation, which is why our assessment always includes a careful nerve examination (Reece et al., StatPearls, 2024).
Golfer's elbow most often affects adults aged 40–60 and usually involves the dominant arm. Despite its name, the great majority of cases are related to repetitive work — gripping, lifting and tool use — rather than sport.
Do You Experience These Symptoms?
✓ Pain and tenderness on the inside of your elbow, sometimes spreading down the forearm towards the wrist
✓ Pain that worsens with gripping, lifting or twisting — such as carrying a bag or turning a door handle
✓ Pain when bending your wrist or rotating your forearm against resistance
✓ Stiffness in the elbow, often worse first thing in the morning
✓ Weakened grip strength, or difficulty holding onto objects
✓ Symptoms that build up gradually over weeks rather than appearing suddenly
✓ In some cases, numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers
These symptoms can be treated.
The sooner you begin, the better your chances of a smoother recovery.
What Causes Golfer's Elbow?
• Repetitive occupational strain
The great majority of cases relate to work rather than sport, with repetitive forceful gripping, manual handling and vibrating tools placing sustained load on the flexor tendons.
Trades such as carpentry, plumbing and construction carry a higher risk, as does repetitive elbow bending for more than an hour a day.
• Sport
Golf is the classic trigger, particularly with poor swing mechanics, but racquet sports, throwing sports, weightlifting and climbing can all overload the flexor–pronator tendons.
Sport accounts for a minority of overall cases, though throwing athletes are especially prone to inner-elbow pain.
• Sudden increase in load or unaccustomed activity
DIY, gardening or a sudden jump in training volume can overstrain tendons that are not conditioned for the demand.
The tendon struggles when cumulative load exceeds its capacity to adapt and repair.
• Age-related tendon change
The condition is most common between 40 and 60, as tendons gradually become less tolerant of repetitive load with age.
It usually affects the dominant arm, which is involved in roughly three quarters of cases.
How We Treat Golfer's Elbow at J&J Therapy
Hands-On Manual Therapy
Our HCPC-registered physiotherapists use hands-on techniques — soft-tissue mobilisation of the forearm flexor muscles, elbow mobilisation-with-movement, and targeted trigger-point work — to ease pain and restore comfortable movement, particularly in the early irritable phase. Manual therapy creates a window in which you can begin loading the tendon, which is what drives lasting recovery.
Shockwave Therapy*
Swiss Storz Medical MASTERPULS to stimulate collagen repair and improve blood flow in the common flexor tendon origin. Non-invasive, evidence-based. Typically 3–6 sessions.
Targeted Exercise Programme
A structured, progressive loading programme is the cornerstone of recovery. We typically begin with isometric holds to settle pain, then progress to slow, heavy strengthening of the wrist flexors and forearm, alongside grip work and — where relevant — shoulder strengthening. Evidence suggests loading exercises may reduce pain and improve grip strength, with most people noticing improvement within 6–8 weeks.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Help
While most symptoms are not serious, urgent medical attention is required if you experience any of the following:
Worsening numbness, tingling or weakness in your ring and little fingers, or loss of hand coordination
Redness, warmth, marked swelling around the elbow, or fever — possible signs of infection
Sudden severe swelling, bruising or deformity after an injury, which may indicate a rupture or fracture
An elbow that locks, or cannot be straightened or bent
FAQs About Golfer's Elbow
Is golfer's elbow the same as tennis elbow?
No. Both are elbow tendinopathies, but golfer's elbow affects the tendons on the inner side of the elbow, whereas tennis elbow affects the outer side. Golfer's elbow is considerably less common — research suggests it affects around 0.4% of adults, compared with about 1.3% for tennis elbow.
How long does golfer's elbow take to get better?
It varies, but the outlook is good: evidence shows more than 90% of patients improve with non-operative treatment. A structured physiotherapy programme can help you recover more comfortably and reduce the chance of recurrence, and most people do so without needing injections or surgery.
Does shockwave therapy work for golfer's elbow?
Research suggests shockwave therapy may help reduce pain and improve function in tendon conditions like golfer's elbow by stimulating the tendon's natural repair processes. It is safe and non-invasive, and we use it alongside your exercise programme rather than on its own. Most courses involve typically 3–6 sessions, usually spaced about a week apart.
Should I just rest until it settles?
Complete rest rarely fixes a tendinopathy and can leave the tendon weaker. Relative rest — modifying aggravating activities while gradually loading the tendon with guided exercise — is more effective. Our physiotherapists help you find the right balance.
Do I need a steroid injection?
Usually not. While corticosteroid injections can give short-term relief, high-quality research shows they lead to worse outcomes and higher recurrence in the long term compared with physiotherapy (Coombes et al., The Lancet, 2010). We prioritise loading-based rehabilitation.
This page is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice.
Reviewed by Lavya Arigalayan, MSc, HCPC Registered Physiotherapist.
Last reviewed:
2026년 8월 20일