Golfers Elbow is a condition of pain on the inside (aka: medial) of the elbow. It’s a common ailment with individuals who play golf – thus the name. Yet, golfers elbow can affect anyone – office workers to painters.
The primary cause of the condition comes from repetitive movements placing improper stress on the flexor muscles. The flexor muscles of the elbow allow you to bend your forearm in – as in bringing a glass of water to your mouth. The flexor muscles play a part in wrist movement – as in shoveling, gardening and hammering. These muscles attach to the bony inside part of your elbow.
Injury Can Come From:
- Pain comes from over use – you’re probably involved in an activity that requires repetitive flexion of wrist or use of forearm muscles – usually involving over gripping of the hand with flexion of the forearm.
- Common in non-athletes – painters, construction workers, gardeners.
- Poor posture – causing muscle imbalances (weakening of upper arm, shoulder) that result in the elbow not being properly stabilized.
- Over gripping a racket, tool, mouse.
Symptoms:
- Pain on the inside of the elbow.
- Pain can vary intensity depending on the severity of condition: – burning, dull achy sensation, radiating down the arm, and pain when touching the elbow.
- Golfers elbow can involve problems with grip, lifting and grasping. Pain can occur with twisting motions – shaking hands, turning a door knob or screw driver.
The Cause of Golfers Elbow:
- Repetitive activities resulting in localized stress in the medial elbow.
- Localized stress can cause inflammation.
- If untreated, the continuation of the activity can result in micro tears in the extensor muscle.
- With micro tears the tendon of the extensor muscle will thicken.
- If micro tears go untreated, the tendon of the flexor muscles will degenerate. The body responds to this degeneration by replacing normal tissue with scar tissue. Scar tissue will not allow the flexor muscles to move correctly.
I approach treating your elbow pain to your presentation, which involves:
- Analyzing your posture – is a slumped shoulder playing into the elbow pain?
- Discussing potential lifestyle dynamics impacting the effected elbow.
- Understanding how other factors such as arthritis can aggravate the problem.
- Muscle testing the muscles comprising the elbow for weakness and pain.
- Targeting effected muscles, releasing motor points, trigger points and relaxing the fascia
Providing exercises to continue treatment success between acupuncture treatments.
Call (914) 572-5137 today or click here to schedule an appointment & learn more about how we can help you.