Summer is among us and many of us are active with our favorite activities. If your activity is golf then you may experience pain in your elbows and forearms which is commonly know as “Golfer’s Elbow”.
Golfer’s elbow is a condition that causes pain on the inner side of your elbow, where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of your elbow. The pain may spread into your forearm and wrist. Golfer’s elbow is similar to Tennis elbow but it occurs on the inside, rather than the outside, of your elbow. The pain of golfer’s elbow doesn’t have to keep you off the course or away from your favorite activities. With rest and appropriate treatment, you can get back into the swing of things.
Golfer’s elbow is characterized by:
- Pain and tenderness on the inner side of your elbow. Sometimes the pain extends along the inner side of your forearm.
- Stiffness. Your elbow may feel stiff, and it may hurt to make a fist, turn a doorknob and lift small objects.
- Weakness. You may have weakness in your hands and wrists.
- Numbness or tingling. Many people with golfer’s elbow experience numbness or a tingling sensation that radiates into one or more fingers — usually the ring and little fingers.
- The pain of golfer’s elbow may appear suddenly or gradually.
The sooner you begin treatment, the sooner you’ll be able to return to your usual activities.
Massage Therapy is a huge help with Golfers or Tennis elbow, it relaxes the tight muscles that have been over used during the sport. Massage increases blood flow within the affected muscles , relieving knots which will then take the tension off the muscle tendon that is attached to your inner elbow (medial epicondyle). Massage Therapists will also provide specific stretches that will target the proper area. You can also provide yourself with help following the below suggestions.
- Rest. Put your golf game or other repetitive activities on hold. If you return to activity too soon, you may make it worse.
- Ice the affected area. Apply ice packs to your elbow for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, three to four times a day for several days. To protect your skin, wrap the ice packs in a thin towel. It may also help to massage the inner elbow with ice for five minutes at a time, two to three times a day.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Try ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
- Stretch and strengthen the affected area. Specific stretching and strengthening exercises.
- Reduce the load on your elbow. Wrap your elbow with an elastic bandage, a forearm strap or athletic tape.
Depending on the severity of the condition, we suggest several (2-6) short duration treatments (30 minutes) to focus on the area after a proper assessment has been done. Everyone recovers differently but following our self help guidance can make all the difference in a quicker recovery!
CORE ELEMENTS REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY
