Don't Let Golfer's Elbow Hold You Back on the Course – Here’s How to Get Relief

As the weather warms up, you might be looking forward to getting back on the golf course. But golfer’s elbow, a common condition that affects many avid golfers, may cut your season short. The good news is that there are ways to treat and even prevent golfer’s elbow to have a pain free swing all season long. 

What is golfer’s elbow?

Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is a common cause of elbow pain. It’s a type of repetitive use injury that affects the tendon on the inside of the elbow. This tendon, the medial common flexor tendon, is the point where five arm muscles meet at the elbow joint. 

This tendon is short and deals with a lot of force. Overuse, sudden increase in activity, and even an improper swing can all lead to injury at that tendon. That injury leads to pain and weakens the tendon over time.

Most golfers tend to play by season and in good weather. So the sudden start and repetitive movement of swinging a golf club can quickly lead to injury. 

What causes golfer’s elbow?

While medial epicondylitis is most often diagnosed in golfers, you don’t have to play golf to get golfer’s elbow. 

Moving a heavy load or putting force on your arm can lead to medial epicondylitis. Other sports that can cause golfer’s elbow include:

• Football

• Archery

• Racquet sports (tennis, squash, pickleball) 

• Bowling

• Weight Lifting

• Javelin throwing

And despite the name, most cases of golfer’s elbow are not actually related to sports. The condition can also develop through forceful, repetitive use of their arm on the job. 

Lifting heavy loads (over 44 pounds) or that expose the elbow to constant movement can lead to golfer’s elbow. People who work certain jobs are more likely to develop golfer’s elbow, including:

• Plumbing

• Construction

• Carpentry

Keep in mind, these risks are additive. So if you use a lot of force for activities or work and play golf, you’re more prone to developing golfer’s elbow. 

What are the symptoms of golfer’s elbow?

The most common symptom of golfer’s elbow is pain on the inside of the elbow. 

The pain will usually get worse if you need to move your elbow or grip something with your hand. You may notice that the pain is at its worst when your arm is cocked. This can occur when you’re getting ready to swing a golf club or hit an overhand serve. 

After you stop playing, the pain can persist, but it will usually fade away over the next few hours. 

You may also notice symptoms like: 

• Elbow stiffness

• Arm weakness 

• Weak grip

• Pain that moves from the elbow and into the wrist 

• Numbness along the inside of the forearm

• Tingling sensation on the inside of the forearm

How do you treat golfer’s elbow?

Most of the time, symptoms from golfer’s elbow go away on their own without treatment. But they can come back. That’s why it’s important to work on your muscle strength and change your arm mechanics. These changes can keep your symptoms from coming back. 

To do this, you may need to work with a physical therapist or another professional. They can show you how to correct your golf swing or change how to do your activities at work. Research shows that physical therapy can help you feel better faster. And it maximizes your elbow strength so you are less likely to get injured again. Your primary care provider or occupational health services office can help you start looking for therapists.

Another important part of treatment is getting good pain relief. There’s several options that can help. These include self-care options, medications, and alternative therapies. 

Self-care 

You can manage pain from golfer’s elbow with self-care options like:

• Rest: Try to rest your arm until your pain goes away and does not come back when you restart your activity. If your pain comes from work and you can’t take time off, ask if you can take on lighter duties to reduce elbow stress.

• Ice: Ice and ice packs can relieve pain and swelling. You can apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the inside of your elbow for about 20 minutes. Try to do this several times a day. 

• Over-the-counter pain medications: OTC pain medications, like ibuprofen (Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can relieve pain. But they work best when your pain first starts. You shouldn’t use these medications for too long because they can cause side effects. If you don't feel any changes after 1 to 2 weeks, stop those pain medications and talk to your healthcare provider about other options.

• Braces: Elbow splints and pads can help relieve pain and protect the ulnar nerve. Supportive braces also relieve stress on the elbow so it can rest and recover. Braces are available over the counter. But if you have a hard time finding one that fits well, talk to a physical therapist about a measured splint. Like OTC pain medications, don't use splints for a long time. This is because they can cause joint stiffness. 

Medical therapies

If self-care options aren’t enough to relieve your pain, medical therapies can help. Options include:

• Steroid injections: Your healthcare provider can inject a steroid into the tissue just outside the elbow tendon. It can relieve pain, but there is the potential for it to slow down the healing process. Your provider may recommend limiting the number of injections to avoid complications. 

• Nitroglycerin patches: You can wear these patches over the elbow. They have been shown to reduce pain from tendon injuries.

• Other injections: Botox injections and platelet-rich plasma injections may help relieve golfer’s elbow pain. But these are more expensive options, and most people do not need them.

• Surgery: This tends to be a “last resort” when people haven’t gotten relief from other options. Less than three percent of people need surgery for medial epicondylitis. 

Alternative therapies

You can add complementary and alternative therapies for better relief: 

• Massage therapy: Massage therapy may help with golfer’s elbow. A common massage technique is the “transverse friction massage.” It focuses on the elbow tendon. 

• Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a treatment method that’s been in use for centuries. It’s used to treat many conditions and for pain relief. 

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): A TENS unit sends electrical signals through the skin. This helps block pain signals from reaching the brain.

These methods have been used to treat golfer’s elbow. But more research is needed to see if they work well for everyone.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, PhD

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been practicing anesthesiology in a community hospital for 30 years. He has taught in the honors program at George Washington University for over 10 years and works as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts