Golfer’s elbow is pain and tendon irritation on the inner side of the elbow, where the wrist flexor and pronator tendons attach to the medial epicondyle. It affects golfers, throwers, carpenters and desk workers. Physical therapy with progressive loading is the most effective treatment. SportsMed Physical Therapy treats golfer’s elbow at clinics across New Jersey and Connecticut.
What Is Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow, known clinically as medial epicondylitis, is an overuse condition of the common flexor tendon on the inside of the elbow. Several forearm muscles that bend the wrist and turn the palm down share one attachment on the medial epicondyle, the bony bump of the inner elbow. Repeated gripping and pulling irritate it. Despite the name ending in “itis,” the tissue is usually degenerative rather than inflamed. That matters, because degenerative tendon responds to loading rather than rest. Medial epicondylitis affects roughly 0.4 to 1 percent of adults and is most common between ages 40 and 60.
What Causes Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow develops when demand on the flexor and pronator tendons outpaces their ability to adapt, and that demand rarely comes from golf alone. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters and hair stylists who grip tools all day are common patients, as are pitchers, rowers and lifters. Poor technique concentrates the load on the medial elbow.
- Repetitive gripping, twisting or pulling at work
- High-volume throwing with poor trunk mechanics
- Sudden jumps in training load or a new club, racquet or tool
- Heavy lifting with a sustained tight grip
- Shoulder blade or rotator cuff weakness
What Are the Symptoms of Golfer’s Elbow?
The hallmark is aching or burning pain over the inner elbow that worsens with gripping. Many people notice it carrying grocery bags or shaking hands. Pain can trail down the forearm, and grip strength often drops.
- Tenderness on the bony bump of the inner elbow
- Pain with gripping, wrist bending or turning the palm down
- Aching that radiates into the forearm
- Weak or unreliable grip, dropping objects
- Soreness that returns the day after activity
Seek prompt medical attention if you have numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers, sudden loss of hand strength, or elbow pain following a fall, since these suggest nerve involvement or a different injury.
How Is Golfer’s Elbow Diagnosed?
Golfer’s elbow is usually a clinical diagnosis. Your therapist palpates the medial epicondyle, tests resisted wrist flexion and pronation, and measures grip strength. Ulnar nerve tests rule out cubital tunnel syndrome, which causes similar pain plus numbness in the ring and little fingers. Imaging is rarely needed early, and ultrasound or MRI is reserved for symptoms lasting beyond three to six months.
How Physical Therapy Treats Golfer’s Elbow
Tendon responds to load, not to rest. Effective care combines graded strengthening that gives the tendon a reason to remodel with changes to the activity that overloaded it. At SportsMed, physical therapy for golfer’s elbow first calms symptoms, then rebuilds capacity.
Early sessions use isometric grip and wrist holds, which often reduce pain within minutes, alongside soft tissue work, elbow and wrist mobilization and a counterforce strap. Therapists then add slow, heavy wrist flexion and pronation exercises three to four times weekly. Treatment also includes scapular and rotator cuff strengthening. Grip mechanics and tool handles are reviewed, and patients whose symptoms come from job tasks use workplace injury rehabilitation. Detailed wrist and hand work happens within our hand and occupational therapy program, and athletes finish with return to sport progressions.
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How Long Does Recovery Take?
Most people notice meaningful relief within four to six weeks of consistent loading, with full recovery typically taking three to six months. Progress is faster when the aggravating activity is modified early and exercises are done three times weekly. Recovery slows with repeated flare-ups, diabetes or smoking, and with programs built on rest and braces alone.
Golfer’s Elbow Treatment Near You in New Jersey and Connecticut
SportsMed has clinics across New Jersey and Connecticut, including many in Essex and Hudson Counties. Inner elbow pain is treated at physical therapy in Montclair, NJ, physical therapy in West Orange, NJ and physical therapy in Maplewood, NJ, with more Essex clinics in Bloomfield, Belleville and Newark. In Hudson County, visit our Jersey City clinic near McGinley Square or physical therapy in North Bergen, NJ, plus Harrison, Bayonne, Union City and West New York. Bergen County patients often choose physical therapy in Paramus, NJ or Hackensack. We serve Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic and Union Counties, plus Fairfield and New Haven Counties. See all New Jersey locations and Connecticut locations, or schedule a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golfer’s Elbow
Q: What is the difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow?
A: Golfer’s elbow affects the flexor tendons on the inner elbow and hurts with gripping and wrist bending. Tennis elbow affects the extensor tendons on the outer elbow and hurts when lifting the wrist backward. Both are overuse tendon problems treated with progressive loading.
Q: Should I rest my arm completely?
A: Complete rest usually backfires. Tendon loses capacity quickly without load, so pain often returns when you resume activity. The better approach is relative rest: reduce the aggravating movement while continuing a structured program that gradually rebuilds tolerance in the flexor tendons.
Q: Do braces or counterforce straps help golfer’s elbow?
A: A counterforce strap just below the elbow can reduce pain during work or sport for some people. It is a short-term aid rather than a treatment. Straps work best combined with strengthening, since they do not change the tendon capacity that caused symptoms.
Q: Can I keep golfing or lifting while I recover?
A: Often yes, in modified form. Many patients continue with lighter loads, shorter sessions, a thicker grip or a neutral wrist position. Your therapist sets a pain guideline, commonly keeping discomfort mild and settled within 24 hours, so activity continues without stalling healing.
Q: Do I need a referral or an MRI before starting therapy?
A: Usually not. New Jersey and Connecticut allow direct access to physical therapy, so most patients book without a referral, and golfer’s elbow is diagnosed clinically. Imaging is reserved for stubborn cases. Check your insurance plan, since some policies still require a physician referral.
Q: Is golfer’s elbow related to repetitive strain from my job?
A: Frequently, yes. Gripping tools, typing with a bent wrist and repeated lifting all load the same tendons. Golfer’s elbow sits within the broader family of repetitive strain injuries and tendinosis, so workstation changes are part of care. Adjusting tool grip size often helps too.
Inner elbow pain that lingers rarely resolves on its own. A SportsMed therapist can confirm what is driving your symptoms and build a loading plan that fits your job or sport.
Book an appointment or find a clinic near you.Reviewed by the SportsMed Physical Therapy clinical team. Last updated: August 2026.