Golfer's Elbow: Symptoms, Causes, and the Ultimate Fix

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A little while back, I wrote an article about tennis elbow, leading to many more emails and direct messages than I expected. I guess it’s more common among my readers than I realized. Undoubtedly, its close cousin, Golfer’s Elbow, is equally common. It’s also just as painful and stems from a similar cause. And, just like tennis elbow isn’t just a tennis-playing issue, golfer’s elbow doesn’t affect only golfers.

About a week after I wrote How to Treat Tennis Elbow Fast: Exercises, Supplements, and Therapies, I connected with the founder of Fiix Body, who told me about a device he created that’s as effective as the best physical therapy, and which you can do from home.

I was intrigued. He offered to send me one to try. Coincidentally, a couple of days later, I started showing signs of golfer’s elbow. That was about a month ago, and my golfer’s elbow has progressively worsened. However, I didn’t want to open my Fiix Body box until my golfer’s elbow had gotten severe, as I wanted to give it a serious trial. I opened the box today and started using it.

I figured it was time to not only write about golfer’s elbow and its symptoms and causes, but also time to highlight the research-supported benefits of Fiix Body. Oh, and I’ve got some great news for you, too. The team at Fiix Body hooked me up with a special discount for my readers. You can get $100 off the device when you use my link, and it comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee! That blew my mind the most. You can try it seriously, and if you don’t find relief in a couple of months of regular use, you can get your money back.

Let’s get on with this article and help you eliminate golfer’s elbow.

What is golfer’s elbow?

Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation on the inner side of your elbow, where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony bump (epicondyle). It’s typically caused by damage to the tendons and muscles due to overuse or repetitive motion. While the name may suggest it’s exclusive to golfers, it definitely isn’t. It can affect anyone who engages in activities that strain the forearm muscles.

Speaking of activities, certain resistance training exercises can inadvertently exacerbate golfer’s elbow if not executed with proper form. Wrist curls, reverse wrist curls, forearm pronation and supination exercises, and pull-up or chin-up movements may worsen the condition, particularly if you’re not careful with the weights you’re lifting or your technique.¹

It sounds similar to tennis elbow, and in some ways, it is, but the underlying cause is different in each. While both involve inflammation of the tendons in the elbow due to overuse, tennis elbow affects the outer part of the elbow rather than the inside.² The distinction between the two conditions is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Symptoms of golfer’s elbow usually include pain and tenderness on the inside, stiffness, weakness in the hands and wrists, and a tingling or numbing sensation radiating into one or more fingers, usually the ring and little fingers.³ The pain might flare up during activities that involve gripping or bending the wrist toward the forearm or while doing those specific resistance exercises mentioned earlier.

Whether you’re an avid golfer, a gym enthusiast, or your job involves repetitive hand and wrist movements, golfer’s elbow can affect you. And trust me, it’s worth understanding the ins and outs of this condition.

How to Diagnose Golfer’s Elbow

When you visit your healthcare provider with the symptoms above, they’ll likely begin with a physical examination. They’ll check for pain or tenderness in different parts of your arm, ask you to move your elbow, wrist, and fingers in specific ways, and apply some pressure to the affected area.⁴

You might wonder, “Why can’t they just take a look at an X-ray and tell you what’s wrong?” Although X-rays can rule out other conditions, such as fractures or arthritis, they might not always show the soft tissue injuries typically seen in golfer’s elbow.⁵ Therefore, your healthcare provider might use a combination of physical examination, your description of symptoms, and possibly other diagnostic tests like MRI or ultrasound scans, to make a definitive diagnosis.⁶

While a self-diagnosis might seem tempting, remember that several conditions can mimic golfer’s elbow symptoms. These can range from nerve entrapments, like cubital tunnel syndrome, to more severe conditions like elbow joint arthritis or even a heart problem.⁷ You should probably see a doctor if you’re sedentary and have developed golfer’s elbow symptoms. However, if you’ve been more physically active than normal or have been doing activities that are different than normal (like building a chicken coop and run and a deck while doing other landscaping and yard work this summer as I have been), there’s a good chance that it’s golfer’s elbow.

Conventional Treatments for Golfer’s Elbow

Once you’ve secured a professional diagnosis of golfer’s elbow, the next step is addressing the condition head-on. The primary goal is to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, promote healing, and, ultimately, get you back to your usual activities sans discomfort.

Let’s start with the conventional treatments – these are often the first line of defense.

Rest: Sounds simple, right? But for some, it’s easier said than done. I’m probably the last person who would stop activity unless it was a severe emergency. Taking a break from activities that cause pain, whether that’s golfing, weightlifting, or even certain work tasks, can significantly help in the healing process, but you might not need to if you take advantage of some of these other options.
Physical Therapy: Special exercises, guided by a physiotherapist, can help strengthen your forearm muscles, improve flexibility, and promote healing. This approach can be remarkably effective in managing golfer’s elbow.⁸ They may also perform a type of manual therapy called Graston. The therapist uses an instrument to apply enough pressure to cause micro trauma to the connective tissue, stimulating stem cell production and new collagen synthesis. Unfortunately, with people’s busy schedules, a patient can rarely get in often enough for the therapy to be effective.
Medications: Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation. Of course, regular use carries serious risks, so if you don’t need to take an NSAID, don’t take it.⁹
Braces or Straps: Your doctor might recommend wearing a brace or strap around your forearm to help reduce strain on the injured tissue.

But what if conventional treatments aren’t helping? For more severe cases, there are a few other treatments available.

Cortisone Injections: These injections can help reduce inflammation and pain. However, they’re not typically a long-term solution and should be administered judiciously due to potential side effects.¹⁰
Surgery: In rare cases, if your symptoms do not improve after a reasonable period of conservative treatments, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove damaged tissue. This is usually followed by a rehabilitation program to help restore function.¹¹

For the most part, conventional treatment relieves some pain but doesn’t fix the underlying issues. This is where the Fiix Elbow device by Fiix Body comes in.

The Fiix Elbow by Fiix Body

One type of manual therapy, known as linear, deep tissue massage, gets great results in treating tennis or golfer’s elbow. The biggest problem with getting results is getting people to show up for their chiropractic or physical therapy appointments consistently.

A small group of people, including sports physical therapists, looked for a way to get people the treatment they needed without needing to visit a clinic. They invented the Fiix Elbow device from Fiix Body.

The Fiix Elbow uses patented technology to automate a linear deep tissue massage, a proven therapy method. Fiix Elbow Device helps release scar tissue, smooth fascia and connective tissue, and increase blood flow, helping your body to naturally heal the tendon and tissues that are responsible for your elbow pain.
Fiix Body

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I received a Fiix Elbow and began the treatment process recently. Though the treatment can be quite painful, I was familiar with the pain from my experience with similar treatment following my biceps tendon rupture and my broken neck.

The device is designed to break down scar tissue and adhesions, so the process isn’t pleasant, but neither is the constant pain of golfer’s or tennis elbow.

The treatment gets results.

If you have tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, I strongly recommend ordering the Fiix Elbow. The Fiix Body team extended a $100 discount for my readers, and it comes with an incredible 90-Day Money Back Guarantee!

Learn More or Order Here

Extra Golfer’s Elbow Relief from Supplements and Essential Oils

Although no magic pill can cure golfer’s elbow, some dietary supplements and essential oils can reduce inflammation, improve tissue healing, and support your overall recovery. The following are among the most likely to provide relief and improve recovery.

Supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids: Known for their anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce inflammation associated with golfer’s elbow. They can be found in fish oil supplements or in foods like fatty fish, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and walnuts, although I recommend getting your omega-3s from animal sources more than plant-based sources.¹²
Collagen: As the primary protein in tendons, collagen supplementation could potentially support tendon health. Studies have shown that collagen supplementation may improve tendon structure and function, but more research is needed in this area.¹³
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is crucial for collagen synthesis in the body and may support tendon health.¹⁴
Curcumin: Found in turmeric, curcumin has potent anti-inflammatory properties and may help alleviate pain related to golfer’s elbow.¹⁵
Proteolytic enzymes: Enzymes such as bromelain and trypsin may help reduce inflammation and accelerate healing. They’re often used in combination with other treatments.¹⁶

Essential Oils

Frankincense Essential Oil: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, frankincense oil may help reduce inflammation and pain associated with golfer’s elbow.¹⁷
Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender oil is often used for its calming effects, but it also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It may help to alleviate pain and promote relaxation.¹⁸
Peppermint Essential Oil: This oil has a cooling effect on the skin and can help to reduce discomfort and promote muscle relaxation.¹⁹
Copaiba Essential Oil: Copaiba oil is rich in beta-caryophyllene, a compound with potent anti-inflammatory effects. It may help to reduce pain and inflammation associated with golfer’s elbow.²⁰
Wintergreen Essential Oil: Wintergreen oil contains methyl salicylate, a compound similar to aspirin, and has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It may help alleviate the pain associated with golfer’s elbow.²¹

Practical Summary

If someone has never had golfer’s elbow, it’s hard to explain the pain you feel with seemingly simple tasks, such as opening a jar or lifting a bag of groceries onto the counter.

If you’ve had it or have it right now, you know how much it alters everyday activities. The good news is, it doesn’t need to be a permanent problem.

You can use the essential oils and supplements above to relieve some pain while you get the treatment you need by visiting a chiropractor or physical therapist in their clinic or by having the practitioner come to you in the way of the Fiix Elbow robot. For me, I’ll go with the Fiix Elbow. Not only does it get results, but it’s also a significant time saver.

1 thought on “Golfer’s Elbow: Symptoms, Causes, and the Ultimate Fix”

Carol Wright

July 8, 2023 at 7:16 pm

Thanks! My chiropractor says that golfer’s elbow is my issue. He did some work on it and much of the pain has been relieved. And of course making some adjustments to my weight lifting routine. I’ll need to be more diligent with the oils.
As always I enjoy your content.