Golfer’s elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a type of repetitive strain injury that affects the tendons and muscles on the inside of your arm near your elbow. It usually occurs due to overuse or repeated stress on these muscles and tendons, causing pain, weakness, and inflammation. The condition can be debilitating and can affect your ability to perform everyday tasks or even play golf. Fortunately, there are several ways to treat golfer’s elbow and get back to full function.
Rest and Ice Therapy: One of the quickest ways to get rid of golfer’s elbow is by resting the affected arm and applying ice therapy. This involves avoiding activities that aggravate the pain and inflammation, such as playing golf or lifting heavy objects. Applying ice packs for 15-20 minutes at a time several times a day can also help reduce swelling and discomfort.
Physiotherapy: A physiotherapist can help diagnose and treat golfer’s elbow. They may use various techniques such as massage, stretches, exercises, ultrasound therapy, taping or bracing to ease pain and promote healing. These techniques can help increase range of motion, improve strength in the affected muscles, reduce inflammation and prevent recurrence.
Chiropractic Care: Chiropractors specialize in treating musculoskeletal disorders like golfer’s elbow through manual adjustments to realign joints that may be causing nerve irritation or compression. Chiropractic care can also include soft tissue therapies like Active Release Technique which breaks up scar tissue adhesions in tight muscles around the area.
Golfer’s elbow can be a painful and limiting condition but there are several ways to treat it. Rest and ice therapy can help manage pain and inflammation, while physiotherapy and chiropractic care can help promote healing and prevent recurrence. Seeking professional treatment from a physiotherapist or chiropractor can help get you back to your favorite activities safely and effectively.
If you have any questions or would like to explore further, please book a free, no-charge online appointment with either myself, Nitin Nair, BPT, R/TRO DIP, PT, or another Kitchener physiotherapist at CARESPACE. We are happy to listen and are here to help!
