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Elbow of a golfer (medial epicondylitis)
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Medial epicondylitis (elbow of a golfer) - inflammation of flexor muscles and pronators, starting from the medial epicondyle of the humerus; is much less common than lateral epicondylitis.
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Causes of medial epicondylitis
The cause of medial epicondylitis can be any physical activity, accompanied by a forceful action on the elbow joint, turned outward, such as during a game of golf, beating off a tennis ball (especially when the ball is spinning strongly, using a racket that is too tightly strung, unsuitable for size pen or heavy balls) and when throwing the ball. Non-athletic activity, which can cause medial epicondylitis, includes brick laying, forging, typing on the keyboard.
Symptoms of a Golfer Elbow
The patient feels pain in the tendons of flexors and pronators (attached to the medial epicondyle) and in the medial epicondyle, when the wrist is bent and pierced in the opposite direction from the resistance.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor performs the following test: the patient sits on a chair, placing his forearms on the table and hands in the supination position. The patient tries to lift the forearm by flexing the wrist, while the doctor holds them down. Pain in the area of the medial epicondyle and tendons of flexors and pronators serves as a reliable diagnostic feature.
Where does it hurt?
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Treatment of medial epicondylitis
Treatment of the elbow of a golfer is the same as for a lateral epicondylitis. The patient should avoid any activity that causes pain when bending or piercing the wrist. First use rest, ice, NSAIDs and stretching along with cortisone injections in a painful area around the tendon. When the pain is reduced, light exercises are performed to resist flexor muscles and extensors of the forearm, then perform eccentric and concentric resistance exercises.
Indications for surgical treatment of medial epicondylitis occur only after 6-12 months in case of unsuccessful physiotherapy. Surgical treatment is to remove scarring and re-damaged tissue.