Golfer's elbow
Golfer’s elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation on the inner side of the elbow. Despite its name, it can affect not only golfers but also individuals involved in activities that require repetitive wrist and forearm movements. The condition occurs when the tendons that attach to the bony bump on the inner side of the elbow (medial epicondyle) become strained or damaged due to overuse or repetitive stress.
Symptoms of Golfer's elbow
Pain and tenderness, primarily located on the inner side of the elbow and occasionally extending along the inner forearm. Pain intensifies during specific movements.
Stiffness in the elbow, making fist clenching painful.
Weakness in the hands and wrists.
Numbness or tingling sensations, often radiating into the ring and little fingers.
Treating Golfer’s elbow
Apply ice to the affected elbow for 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times daily.
Rest the injured elbow and avoid activities that aggravate the condition.
For pain relief and swelling reduction, you might need oral NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Topical medications may also be helpful.
Corticosteroid or painkiller injections (e.g., lidocaine) into the elbow can provide short-term pain and swelling relief.
If pain persists after 3 to 6 months, surgery might be necessary. Procedures can remove damaged tendon parts, promote healing, and alleviate pain. Full recovery may take 3 to 6 months.
Research into shockwave treatment & Golfer’s elbow
During therapy, shock waves create minor trauma to the elbow, stimulating the formation of new blood vessels that facilitate healing. Additionally, the shock waves initiate a fresh inflammatory response, prompting the brain to dispatch nutrients and healing factors to the injured region.
According to a research paper published in 2012 by Lee and Kang, it was observed that the ESWT group demonstrated comparable improvements to the local steroid injection group when used as a treatment for both medial and lateral epicondylitis. Consequently, ESWT emerges as a valuable alternative for patients facing challenges with local steroid injections.
In a study (2019), further validation was found for the effectiveness of ESWT in treating medial epicondylitis, reaffirming its potential as a successful therapeutic approach.
As a professional manufacturer of shockwave therapy machine, we can offer the shockwave therapy for our Golfer’s elbow clients. This treatment approach has yielded remarkable outcomes with minimal discomfort reported by our patients. The virtually pain-free nature of this therapy offers renewed hope for individuals seeking effective and gentle management of Golfer’s elbow, aiming to restore optimal function and enhance their overall well-being.
[1] Lee, S. S., Kang, S., Park, N. K., Lee, C. W., Song, H. S., Sohn, M. K., … & Kim, J. H. (2012). Effectiveness of initial extracorporeal shock wave therapy on the newly diagnosed lateral or medial epicondylitis. Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine, 36(5), 681-687.
[2] Krischek, O., Hopf, C., Nafe, B., & Rompe, J. D. (1999). Shock-wave therapy for tennis and golfer’s elbow–1 year follow-up. Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 119, 62-66.