Golfer’s Elbow

Medial epicondylitis or golfer’s elbow is similar, but less common, to external epicondylitis (tennis elbow). Although the ending of the condition is “inflammation” (this ending usually indicates inflammation), nevertheless, epicondylitis is a degenerative condition, without inflammatory changes.

These two epicondylitis can be said to be similar to each other, since both occur in people whose sport requires the use of a racket. But apart from golfers, medial epicondylitis is also seen in people who are not involved in this sport, such as those who bowl, lift weights or throw the javelin.

From the medial epicondyle arise the flexor muscles of the wrist and the pronators of the forearm. This group of muscles stabilizes the medial aspect of the elbow, assisting the ulnar collateral ligament. In medial epicondylitis, the lesion is located between the pronator teres and the flexor carpi. There may also be changes in the outgrowths of the flexor carpi ulnaris and palmaris longus. Patients with medial epicondylitis present with:

• pain on the inside of the elbow that worsens with activity,
• pain that radiates down the inside of the forearm, wrist or hand,
• pain that worsens with grasping objects,
• elbow stiffness and reduced range of motion.

The diagnosis can simply be achieved through clinical examination, where palpation of the medial epicondyle and some loading tests of the wrist and finger flexors reproduce the symptoms. The treatment of medial epicondylitis is conservative, with patients following an appropriately structured physical therapy rehabilitation program.