You’ve heard of tennis elbow (we’ve even discussed the causes and treatment options here on our website), but did you know that golf elbow also exists? Here in Phoenix, Arizona, where the golf courses are countless and the weather is close to perfect much of the year, we see many golfers affected by this, but non-athletes can also experience the uncomfortable symptoms that interfere with their favorite things to do.
While tennis elbow affects the outside of the elbow, golf elbow is a form of tendonitis that affects the inside of the elbow. It is typically caused by overuse of your forearm muscles: the muscles that you use to grip something, move your wrist, or rotate your arm. When you perform the same action over and over again, small pulls or tears in your tendon, the fibrous tissue that connects your muscles to your bones, can develop. This is common among golfers because of the repeated swinging of the club, but golf elbow can really affect anyone who might use similar repetitive movements, such as gardening, painting, working with tools, or even rock-climbing or pitching a softball.
Is Playing for Par Painful?
Golf elbow can make golfing and other activities painful and challenging. Commonly experienced symptoms might include:
- Difficulty bending or moving the elbow
- Trouble with your grip or with holding onto something such as a golf club, hammer, rake, or paintbrush, etc.
- Wrist weakness or tiredness
- Pain on the inside of the elbow
- Numbness or tingling that radiates to one or more fingers
- Tightness or soreness in the muscles of the forearm
A widespread test used to diagnose golf elbow is to hold your hand with the palm facing down, then bend your wrist down (fingers pointing to the floor) while applying mild resistance to this movement with your other hand. If you experience pain near the elbow when performing this motion, golf elbow could be the cause of your symptoms.
Tee Off an Effective Treatment
Tendonitis, or the inflammation of a tendon, is very common and can affect many different areas of the body. A universal recommendation for treatment includes rest to allow healing to take place. Physicians or coaches might also advise ice and anti-inflammatory medications. In more severe cases, steroid injections or even surgery might be suggested. However, before you go this route, consider acupuncture as a natural and effective treatment option.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, we have a natural flow of energy through our bodies, known as Qi. When that energy flow is obstructed, something like a dam in a river can form, resulting in too much pressure on one side of the dam and limited flow on the other. This blockage can produce many different symptoms, one of the most common being pain.
When your acupuncturist inserts very fine acupuncture needles into specific points on your body, these energy-restricting blockages can be broken up. Energy or Qi then moves more easily throughout your body, enabling healing, as well as many other positive side effects including stress relief, improved mood, better sleep, and more.
Acupuncture can also be partnered with cupping, Chinese herbs, and stretching exercises to create a holistic treatment plan that’s sure to make a marked difference.
If elbow pain is taking the fun out of your favorite hobby, let’s talk to see if tennis elbow or golf elbow is to blame. Then we’ll incorporate Eastern, natural approaches to treat the underlying issue and eliminate your pain. Call us at 602-955-5444 to schedule your appointment.
