It’s a gorgeous summer day and you’re about to make the perfect hit to land your golf ball on the green when suddenly you feel pain on the inside of your elbow. There’s a good chance you’re dealing with medial epicondylitis or “Golfer’s Elbow” – and this doesn’t affect just golfers. Golfer’s elbow is a layman’s term for Medial Epicondylitis. Believe it or not, you do not need to be playing golf to have this diagnosis. It is a condition that can affect anyone who uses their forearms. The injury can be a result of chronic overuse, wear/tear, and even improper biomechanics of the elbow and forearm.
Golfer’s elbow can present with many symptoms. Most commonly, stiffness in the elbow, tenderness at the inside part of the elbow, increased pain during certain motions, forearm weakness, and potentially numbness or tingling found in the hands and wrists. Medial epicondylitis can impact your daily life with some symptoms including increased pains while lifting, gripping, and flexing your wrists. Typing and work at a computer or desk can also provoke some of these symptoms. If untreated, the condition can worsen and can become chronic in nature.
Traditional intervention for the complaint include physical therapy, bracing, resting, icing, etc. While all can potentially help the complaint, they may not be addressing the root cause of the issue. Fortunately, there are other interventions that can address medial epicondylitis, while also looking at the root cause! Our office provides several interventions to combat pains in both the acute and chronic stages of the condition. Some treatment options we provide include: Dry needling, shockwave therapy, muscle scraping, myofascial tissue release, dynamic cupping, therapeutic stretching/exercise, and of course, adjustments. Each phase calls for different therapies to best address the timing of the complaint. Our doctors provide each person a specialized treatment plan to best suit the current status of your individual history.
From addressing a whole-body approach, we can assess other related areas that could also be impacting the functionality of the elbow to make sure all facets of the issue are addressed. The joint manipulation provided by the chiropractic adjustment works to restore proper alignment of the body’s joints. The adjustment also allows the nervous system to remain stimulated and function properly. Soft tissue works with the chiropractic adjustment by allowing inflamed muscle groups to relax or ease tension. Muscle scraping in the area can break up scar tissue that may be present depending on the chronicity of the pain. Once pains are controlled, therapeutic exercises and stretches work to retrain muscles to work more properly. Even changes in posture and joint biomechanics can have a significant impact on the functionality of the elbow!
We recommend seeing a chiropractor when you notice persistent pains lasting more than a few days, if you have increased difficulty while performing daily tasks, or if at-home remedies are not working to reduce the symptoms. Golfer’s elbow is a common issue, but is very treatable! Seeing one of our chiropractic providers can help you get the personalized assessment of the complaint so we can best treat you. Ask one of us today how we can help you get on top of your medial epicondylitis!
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