Golfers’ Elbow: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Recovery
Dr Sameer Jain
January 13, 2026
People who perform repetitive, forceful gripping, wrist flexion, or forearm twisting often suffer from inner elbow pain radiating to the forearm. The pain can be debilitating and hinder arm movements. This condition is called Golfer’s elbow or Medial epicondylitis. It is characterized by overuse degeneration and tendinopathy of the common flexors of the elbow on the medial epicondyle of the arm bone. It is also referred to as pitcher’s elbow, tendinosis, or epicondylalgia.
The most common presenting complaint of Golfer’s elbow is inside elbow pain or elbow pain while lifting or moving. The common misconception about Golfer’s elbow is that it occurs in Golf players only and other racquet sports, but according to a study, 90% of the cases are not related to sports.
Although less common than Tennis Elbow or lateral epicondylitis, Golfer’s elbow is most commonly caused by continuous overload or overuse of the medial flexor tendon of the elbow. The inside elbow pain not only hinders sports or occupational efficiency, but it also affects the daily routine movements of the patients as well. It can be managed well with complete pain solutions at Pain Treatment MD. The pain treatment specialists with their expertise at PTMD help you get rid of pain with minimally invasive approaches that are highly effective.
If you are also one of those who is experiencing pain in the inside of the elbow and want to learn all about the condition for better management, then give this blog a complete read. This blog encompasses all the details about Golfer’s Elbow, its etiology, occurrence, anatomy, and treatment solutions.
The medial epicondyle gives attachment to the common flexor tendons of the forearm. They connect the elbow to the forearm. The condition occurs when the wrist and arm are repeatedly used for twisting, holding weights, and bending for a long period of time. These repeated movements cause micro tears in the flexor tendon, which leads to inflammation, pain, and soreness.
Medial epicondylitis is caused by repetitive concentric or eccentric loading of the wrist flexors and pronator teres. This overuse causes micro tears in the flexors of the wrist progressively leading to Angio fibroblastic changes and tendinosis. Repetitive microtears in the tendons can result in remodelling of the collagen fibres, focal necrosis, and calcification. The decrease in collagen strength can cause the formation of scar tissue, increased fragility, and tendon thickening.
The pain caused by Golfer elbow originates from the medial side or the inner elbow and radiates to the forearm, elbow, and fingers. The pain inside elbow intensifies during specific movements and weight lifting. Golfer’s elbow can result from any movement, such as swinging a tennis racquet, lifting a loaded food tray, hammering nails, or typing or working on your computer keyboard for extended time period.
The medial or inner side of the elbow has a bony prominence that gives attachment to the forearm flexor muscles. Muscles originating from the medial epicondyle are:
These muscles help to perform motor movements of wrist flexion, finger flexion, and forearm pronation. The medial epicondyle also has the Ulnar Collateral Ligament, which is joint stabilizing structure and is all innervated by the Median nerve. In medial epicondylitis, the flexor tendons are irritated or undergo degeneration, causing pain on the inner side of the elbow. The anatomy helps to diagnose and manage medial elbow pain.
Common Symptoms of Golfer’s Elbow
Some of the most common symptoms of Golfer’s elbow are listed below.
We have understood that Golfer’s elbow is a condition that has localized symptoms. Golfer’s elbow causes localized tenderness on the medial side of the elbow, called the Golfer’s elbow lump. In some cases, patients develop a bony lump that occurs due to formation of scar tissue, repeated strain or inflammation of the tendon. The lump is characterized by a bony prominence protruding on the inside of the elbow. It is swollen and tender. The lump also causes pain, stiffness, and weakness.
Here are some of the most common causes of Golf elbow injury.
Apart from Golfer’s Elbow there are many other conditions that affect the inner elbow. These overuse injuries affecting the inner elbow result from repetitive and forceful flexion, gripping, and throwing biomechanics. It affects athletes and people with laborious occupations, such as plumbers, and masons. The most common inner elbow injuries are discussed below.
The usual recovery timeline of Golfer’s elbow depends on the severity of the condition. Mild cases take almost 6 to 12 weeks to recover, while more severe cases might take 6 months to a year. It depends on the choice of treatment plan along with your commitment to follow their treatment plan. It is highly recommended to consult a medical facility specializing in pain management and treatment, such as Pain Treatment MD, where proper evaluation of Golfer’s elbow can be carried out.
Initially, the goal of the treatment is focused on removing and minimizing the straining activities to reduce tension in the muscles. The acute treatment phase is primarily targeted at pain management. Your healthcare provider will ask you to rest, apply ice, and take oral analgesics such as NSAIDs and acetaminophen.
The later phase of the treatment revolves around physiotherapy and the rehabilitation process. Some severe cases that cannot be managed by the above-mentioned approaches require surgery.
It is very important to diagnose and address Golfer’s elbow in an early phase, as a simple discomfort during movement can turn into constant pain on the inside of the elbow. Some of the most common long-term effects of Golfer’s elbow are discussed below.
The treatment for Golf elbow requires a patient-centred, holistic approach that not only improves the elbow pain but also aims at improving the functionality. Pain Treatment MD, a medical facility in Euless, is solely dedicated to the management and treatment of painful orthopaedic conditions.
Expert, certified and experienced healthcare providers at PTMD utilize advance and cutting-edge pain treatments. The options are numerous, minimally invasive, and highly effective.
Based on the severity of your symptoms, comorbidities, age, gender, and other related factors, pain treatment experts here evaluate, plan and suggest solutions for your Elbow pain or any other chronic pain condition.
Inner elbow pain can occur due to many reasons, such as cubital tunnel syndrome, ligamentous injury, Golfer’s elbow, and muscle strain. These conditions may have the same symptoms but are different due to underlying causes. All pain in the inner elbow may not be Golfer’s elbow, but all Golfer’s elbow cases will cause inner elbow pain.
Yes, Golfer’s elbow can affect grip strength and hand coordination. It is a condition that is caused by overuse injury and degeneration in the flexors of the wrist attached at the medial epicondyle of the elbow. This affects the functionality of the forearm, wrist, and fingers, affecting grip and hand coordination.
No, both arms are not at equal risk. The dominant arm, which is used mainly, is affected in almost 75% of the patients.
Yes, elbow straps are an effective mode of treatment for golf elbow symptoms. They provide relief by reducing strain on the affected tendon. They help in reducing muscle strain by improving the blood flow. They also stabilize the joint and help it to heal.
Golfer’s elbow is a condition that causes pain on pain on inside of the elbow due to overuse and overload affecting the forearm. It is mostly seen in athletes, sportsmen, and skilled workers who have laborious work. Treating Golf Elbow or Golf Elbow pain may require pain medications, physical therapy, and avoiding repetitive strain to the wrist and elbow.
If you are suffering from pain on inside of the elbow when straightening arm or inner elbow pain when lifting, and it has started to affect your daily life, then diagnosing and treating Golfer’s elbow is the need of the hour. Leaving it untreated can lead to complications and severe implications, such as tendon degeneration and severe limitation in functional life.
Contact Pain Treatment MD for early, accurate diagnosis with highly effective and advanced treatment for pain. Restore function and improve quality of life with Golfer’s elbow for long-term relief.
