How to Play Golf With Golfer's Elbow

Your tendons connect the muscles in your elbow to your elbow bones. When you play golf, the repeated gripping of the club can cause your tendons to become inflamed on the inside of your elbow. The condition is called medial epicondylitis. Symptoms include pain that extends down the forearm and weakness when gripping a club. If left untreated, the tendons can become torn, which can necessitate surgical repair in some instances. While it is possible to still play golf with golfer’s elbow, it’s important to take steps toward recovery.

Take an anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen as directed daily. These medications help to constrict inflamed blood vessels that lead to swelling and pain.

Apply heat using a heating pad to your elbow before you play golf. The heat will help to loosen the tendons and muscles in your forearm, reducing pain when you play. Apply for 10 to 15 minutes.

Stretch the forearm muscles before beginning your game. One stretch involves standing an arm’s length away from a wall. Place your palm, fingers down, on the wall, pressing your palm toward the wall. If your tendons are especially tense, you may not be able to place the hand flat. Hold this position for 30 seconds, then release. Repeat two to three times.

Wrap the elbow in a compression bandage or wear an elbow brace while you play. This bandage type helps to isolate the forearm muscles, reducing the amount of strain placed on the muscles when you play golf.

Ice the affected area using an ice pack or create your own pack by putting ice cubes in a plastic bag wrapped with a protective towel. Place the pack on the inner portion of the elbow and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat several times throughout the day to reduce inflammation in the tendon.

Practice kinetic chain exercises when you are not playing golf to strengthen the muscles of the elbow and wrist. Hold a 1- to 2-pound weight in the hand you typically swing the club with. Practice your swing holding the weight while tightening the abdomen and back muscles.

Tips

When you experience an initial flare-up of golfer’s elbow, it’s best to rest the elbow for at least one to two weeks to give your tendons time to heal. You also should avoid playing tennis because it affects similar tendons.

Warnings

If your golfer’s elbow does not respond to over-the-counter treatments, seek medical attention. Your physician can recommend physical therapy exercises, prescribe medications or give you a cortisone shot to reduce inflammation.