Golfers elbow vs. Tennis elbow?

[OldFrog75]

I understand Tennis elbow but what repetitive motion causes Golfers elbow?

[RainShadow]

Same thing, repetitive motion and vibration.

Medial epicondylitis is golfer's elbow, while lateral epicondylitis is tennis elbow.

[Murphy76]

Anyone experience a treatment for this other than ice and ibuprofin?

[Justsomeguy]

Yes, but you're not gonna like it: rest.

All the other things, active and passive, have more potential to exacerbate the injury than heal it.

You gotta let it run its course without playing, turning screws, lifting heavy, anything you do that makes you more than just 'feel' it, you're reinjuring the fibers and prolonging recovery.

[OldFrog75]

Thanks to all those who responded. Everything I've read says repetitive motion and vibration so I was actually hoping for more detail about what specific motion(s) strains the Medial Epicondylitis. I assume that it is a result of bad form, not just repetitive motion.

[Murphy76]

Uggg. Other than not golfing, it's going to be pretty hard to not do the other things mentioned. Thanks for the advice though!

[Justsomeguy]

One is inside, one is outside. Could be repetitive use injury, could be one bad episode that triggered it. It's sui generis to the person and mechanism and activity.

No way to tell, but both treated more similarly than differently. Rest.

[Hawkeye77]

Why bad form? Repetitive motion is repetitive motion. Bad form, good form - stuff has all ways of getting stressed.

[Socrates]

Both my cases of tennis elbow and golfer's elbow were the result of non-golf activities. Tennis Elbow from building a work bench and a bunch of little screws driven by hand. Golfer's Elbow recently from hammering nails installing siding. Non-golf related but both affected my golf.

[tr881430]

I did prolotherapy last year after about 18 months of golfer's elbow. It's micro injections of glucose into the tendon to seal the tears. It worked really well after about 6 months. Still pain free now.

[Hawkeye77]

4 months and a couple weeks post tennis elbow surgery. Played my first golf (quick 9) this morning since then (actually since 2018) that I didn’t even think about my elbow. Not once. Still need to keep working it, but glad there had been very gradual progress.

[OldFrog75]

Because if it was just repetitive motion every tour player would have it given they probably hit many thousand more balls every year than I do. Therefore I assume they don't get it because their form is better than most amateurs. Anecdotally I can't figure out how to strain those muscles/tendons even if I try to do it intentionally, whereas it's pretty easy to strain the other side of the forearm (tennis elbow).

[BeTheBall_]

While resting from activities that trigger the pain is generally a good idea, you don't want to rest it completely.

Tendons heal faster when loaded appropriately (for example using a Theraband Flexbar) rather than complete rest. There's loads of studies on this. Manual manipulation of the affected area (tendon scraping/graston technique) can also relieve pain and speed up the healing process.

Once pain has lessened you probably want to think about strengthening the musculature around the joint/tendon so they take more of the load rather than the tendons themselves.

[RecoveringGolfer]

“Ask Dr Jo” either in YouTube or her website has good tips for golfers elbow ... stretches, exercises, & straps and how to wear while playing. If I get one I’ll repost here. Mine hurts most when my right arm releases. Def when clubface impacts ground. I fight swaying so I get fatness in my swings. (lol tech term) Don’t kno if that’s what originally caused it but pickleball bothers it as well. Maybe it started there. Best of luck.

[seis]

You might think this is odd but for me when I neglect my arm curls for a couple of weeks,( and I am not talking about the twelve or sixteen ounce ones), my left elbow starts barking after a round. I also religiously wear a good shock absorbing brace on the left forearm when golfing, raking or mowing.

[Hawkeye77]

It doesn’t work that way.

[Socrates]

Because if it was just repetitive motion every tour player would have it given they probably hit many thousand more balls every year than I do. Therefore I assume they don't get it because their form is better than most amateurs.

It usually occurs when you change the motion or use a different motion that your body isn't used to. Putting stress on the attachment points. Keep doing it and you may run into problems (like hammering 200 - 3" nails while putting up siding). Plenty of Tour players out there using tennis elbow bands to alleviate pain. Look at the Senior Tour where their bodies are wearing down. You can see almost every type of medical gadget out there. You don't see it as much on the PGA Tour any more since they tend to be better coached, better shape and when problems arise, get prompt medical help and therapy. And they are YOUNG.

[OldFrog75]

I may have figured it out. Experimenting with my own body, I can create stress in the appropriate spot by dramatically over-bowing my wrist during my back swing; e.g. Dustin Johnson. Fortunately I don't swing like that and now that I feel it I never will.

[Hawkeye77]

Yep, that’s the only way someone can get it.

[Qqq123xx]

Repeatedly banging the club into the ground repeatedly after hooking another one into the next State over.

[Scratch_72]

I have non golf related issue, snow shoveling last winter. Started wearing a brace while doing anything that involved any type of strain on the joint area and helped a lot in combination with some physiotherapy. https://www.tensor.ca/3M/en_CA/tensor/products/~/Tensor-Tennis-Elbow-Brace-black-one-size/?N=5926491+8707798+3293541390&rt=rud

[Socrates]

Thought I was near healed with my current G.E. but needed to put in some range time to fix some bad things that had crept into my game. 2 sessions in and I'm back to square one with the pain. Even with a brace it takes about 10 swings to push past the pain and then it gets better. One more range session should get me back on the straight and narrow and then I can let it heal a little. Normal playing doesn't really bother me with a brace on since there is really only about 30 full shots in 4hrs span. November will come and then, based on current Covid outbreaks, I can look forward to 5 months of rest and healing.

[Loki]

Get a wrist brace that prevents your hand from bending towards the inside of arm. Wear 24/7 for 30 days, take it off for showering only.

DO NOT PLAY GOLF.

After 30 days slowly start swinging but with a swing count.

I wore the strap just below the elbow and that "helped" temporarily. The brace is what cured me.

Good luck!

[OldFrog75]

Given this ailment is called, "Golfers Elbow", not "Lumberjacks Elbow" or "Carpenters Elbow" or "Jack Hammer Operators Elbow", you would think there would be more definitive information about this problem for golfers like there is for "Tennis Elbow" for tennis players.

[Socrates]

It's the same injury, just a different point of attachment. As with many things, rest is the best medicine.

[mizuno player]

I had "tennis" elbow that was very bad. I couldn't turn a door handle or pull the covers up on the bed. Could not grip the club at all.

Rest is the best thing. When you're ready to hit again. Keep resting. I think I came back too soon and at that point rest and shots did nothing. Ended up having surgery. It's painful and I lost 9 months after surgery. I first took 4 months off and came back. So lost over a year.

Stay off mats as much as possible. I think that's what did me in.

[hoselpalooza]

this. obligatory "i'm not a doctor" but i've been afflicted by this and know others who have.
anyway, it turns out the "-itis" in medial and lateral epicondylitis is a bit of a misnomer. many medical professionals now proclaim the etiology is more consistent with a degenerative process than an inflammatory process. why is this important to note? because after initial rest it may be very important to strengthen the tissue to prevent further tissue degeneration.@Murphy76, if you haven't already, get a proper diagnosis and establish with a physiotherapist who can design a treatment program appropriate for your situation. rest alone is unlikely to permanently fix this for you.

[llewol007]

I’m currently experiencing golfer elbow as we speak and let me tell you it is all about giving up the game for about 2 months and rethinking what setup you have in your irons. My injury came about from playing too heavy a shaft in my irons that were about close to an inch too long as well. I just think that the my left arm elbow/forearm area couldn’t handle the heavy weight. Those bands that are designed to wrap that area didn’t work. It actually felt more painful during the round and I would just take it off. Now i wrap it in sports tape which seems to put a squeeze on that area without actually applying pinpoint compression which was painful. I still would feel it during the round but felt like wrapping your ankle if youve ever felt that. Ice and heat just brought some slight relief but it will not completely go away.

[Skaffa77]

Had bouts with tennis elbow twice. The first time was from excessive golf and range time...the tennis elbow brace helped. The second time was a combo of bowling (massive forearm twisting to get a hook spin) and golf. The 2nd time took forever to heal. Rest was a major key...but I also visited a PT who provided some exercises (include the Theraband Flexbar...and yes...people will laugh when they see it...looks like something you'd get an adult toy store) and needling/massaging to help the inflamed forearm muscles to relax.

[tacklingdummy]

I've been struggling with tennis elbow for probably 15 years. About 12 years ago I got a cortisone shot which helped and was able to play. Fast forward to last year, and the tendonits pain flared up again. Got another cortisone shot and it helped. Started playing again. Then two months ago, I was struggling with a stubborn household item with pliers and must of pulled a muscle or something. The next day I couldn't lift a carton of milk. Let rest for two weeks and tried to hit balls again. No dice. The most pain I have ever had hitting balls. The arm is a little better now as I can lift some things, but my elbow tendonitis got worse. Can't even putt without pain now.

The only thing that has seemed to help relieve the pain is rolling my arm, shoulder and forearm with a foam roller, stretching, and percussion massage only on the muscles. The relief is brief, but does help some. Just going not touch golf and keep rolling and stretching it to see if that helps.