gOLFERS ELBOW SPECIAL

Continuing on our head-to-toe focus and how chiropractic care can help, we dig deep into another repetitive strain injury, Medial Epicondyle Tendinopathy, most commonly known as Golfer’s elbow. This is a condition that causes pain on the inside of the elbow, usually as the result of repetitive ‘overstrain’ of tendons used for moving the wrist and hand, that attach on the inside of the elbow.
​
Despite its name, it does not just affect people who play golf. It also affects workers who do repeated activities with their hands, wrists or arms. It can, however, occur in any individual.
 The level of pain can vary from person to person, with some people reporting a mild niggle that comes and goes and others reporting a severe ache that can keep them awake at night.

​The main symptoms of golfer's elbow include: 

• Pain or tenderness on the bony lump on the inside of the elbow
• Pain when gripping, doing activities such as shaking hands
• Pain when lifting items such as a full kettle
• Pain with twisting such as unscrewing the lid on a jar or carrying shopping
  
• Pain with completely straightening the elbow

Anyone can develop it, but it's usually seen in people age 40 to 70 years old. Golfer's elbow is thought of as an overuse injury, and is linked with activities that involve repeated gripping, lifting and twisting with the hand and wrist.
Although golfer's elbow is painful, it often goes away with rest from the activities that caused it in the first place. ​

How is it diagnosed?
​
Diagnosis is usually made from the patient’s history and a simple examination without the need for special investigations. An ultrasound scan may be done if there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, but this is unusual for golfer’s elbow. At Personal Best our in-house specialist diagnostic sonographer Mr Jonathan Wride can perform these scans. For more complex cases, for example where there is a history of fractures or surgery and MRI might be preferable.

 The self-management advice below can help minimise symptoms and facilitate the healing process.
 your recovery.

• Pain​ - Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory gels may be helpful to control the pain and allow you to continue exercising. Discuss this with your GP or pharmacist.
  
• Ice - Icing the area is another adjunct that may be helpful to control the pain and allow you to continue with exercising. We recommend that you ice 2-3 times/day for 10 minutes - remember to wrap your icepack in a tea towel.
  
• Activity modification - Activity modification can also help your symptoms. This simply means trying to change or adjust your grip or the position of your hand and wrist. For example, it may mean repositioning your mouse when using your computer, or swapping to a joystick type mouse instead
  
• Elbow brace - Epicondylitis braces are really useful to ease the strain on the tendon when you are using your forearm and hand. You can find these online, if you are not sure which one to get just call our clinic team and we will advise you.
  
• Start by exercising gradually and build up over time - As with any physical activity it is normal to feel some discomfort or aching in your muscles after exercising but you should stop if you get any joint pain that does not go away quickly. ​

What if it’s not getting better?
Chronic golfer’s elbow (>5-6 weeks) responds very well to radial shockwave therapy. Shockwaves are compressed air pressure waves that we direct onto the injured tendon (and the muscle) to “kick start” repair by mechanically stimulating the cells, creating micro bruising of the tendon which brings in inflammatory cells which will in turn start to repair the tissue. 
​Alex and Kristine both offer this treatment. They might also use Kinesio taping to stabilise the elbow, along with home exercises to speed up your recovery.