Golfer's Elbow

[glen54]

I have developed golfer's elbow!

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to treat this problem?

Thanks,

Glen

[GregJWillis]

Re: Golfer's Elbow

After the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) method to let the tendons heal. I would look at why you got that in the first place.

Are you in good shape to begin with? If you were not, and you took up golf as your first sport, then you will defiantly run in to the problems of new pains in the places you start to use new activity. Rest in between sessions and you will begin to build those areas up and this will take a little time (like any new sport). If you are in good shape, then you are probably doing something to either a new set of areas that were not previously worked with your other sport, or you really are doing the swing incorrectly. There should be no pain anywhere in a correct swing (during and after golf). The elbow is (I assume the leading Left one for RH golfer) one joint that will get abuse in the swing if not used correctly.

If the elbow is being bent in the takeaway, then it has to be re-extended before impact, and this can cause problems if you are in bad positions at that point in impact. Try to swing to where you can keep the leading arm straight throughout the takeaway and impact position. It can be broken after impact, to the point where it looks like a mirror image of the right did at the top, but only after impact. If you are having a hard time keeping the arm straight, then look at where the arm is in respect to the chest. It should be out and extended completely away from the chest, and not crossing over it. This frees up the arm and keeps it from being pressed into the chest restricting the arms ability to be free to move up and down. If you are looking at this position and saying, "There is no way I can have my arms in this position!", then look at the position of your shoulders at the top of the swing. Is your back facing the target? If not, then that is your problem. You have to have your shoulders turning completely to where your back faces the target for your arms to be extended away from the body, allowing the leading arm to be fully extended.

The most common problem I see in golfer's elbow is not getting the leading arms extended correctly because of a lack of turn in the shoulders.