Inflammation of the tendons on the inner elbow due to overuse.
Golfer's elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, affects the tendons that attach to the medial epicondyle, the bony prominence on the inner side of the elbow. These tendons flex the wrist and fingers and are loaded during gripping, lifting and throwing movements. It is less common than tennis elbow but follows the same underlying pattern: repetitive strain that outpaces the tendon's capacity to repair itself.
Because the ulnar nerve runs close to the medial epicondyle, golfer's elbow can sometimes overlap with irritation of this nerve, causing tingling in the ring and little fingers alongside the more typical elbow pain. This overlap is worth mentioning specifically during assessment, as it can influence the treatment approach.
Golfer's elbow results from overload of the tendons that flex the wrist and fingers, at their attachment to the medial epicondyle. It is often associated with golf, particularly a poor swing technique or a sudden increase in practice, but it is equally common in weightlifting, throwing sports, racquet sports and manual trades involving repetitive gripping, lifting or twisting.
As with tennis elbow, it typically develops from cumulative strain rather than a single injury, and becomes more common with age as tendons become less tolerant of repetitive load.
Common symptoms of golfer's elbow include:
Symptoms usually build gradually with a repetitive aggravating activity, though an unaccustomed bout of heavy lifting or throwing can also bring them on.
Diagnosis is usually clinical, based on the location of pain and examination findings. If tingling in the ring and little fingers is present, additional assessment of the ulnar nerve may be recommended to check for co-existing nerve irritation.
Non-surgical treatment mirrors that for tennis elbow: activity modification, physiotherapy with eccentric strengthening exercises, a supportive brace during aggravating activity, and simple pain relief. A corticosteroid injection can help settle symptoms in some patients, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy may be considered for persistent cases.
Surgery, golfer's elbow release, is reserved for patients whose symptoms remain significant after a proper course of non-surgical treatment. It involves removing degenerated tendon tissue and reattaching healthy tendon to the bone where needed.
Most people with golfer's elbow improve well with non-surgical treatment, though as with tennis elbow, full recovery can take several months given the gradual nature of tendon healing.
Surgery is uncommon, and is reserved for the minority who do not improve with a genuine course of non-surgical care. In this group, outcomes are generally good, with most patients regaining grip strength and returning to their usual activities.
Golfer's elbow is a common, treatable cause of inner elbow pain, closely related to tennis elbow but affecting the opposite side of the joint. Most cases respond well to activity modification, physiotherapy and time, and surgery is uncommon. Persistent inner elbow pain, or any tingling into the ring and little fingers, is worth having assessed.
