Elbow Surgeon in Eagle and Summit County

Operating out of three clinics in Eagle and Summit County, Dr. Joseph and his team at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics are considered the leading experts in elbow tendinitis. Golfer's elbow is a form of tendinitis that, if left untreated, can impact your day-to-day movements.

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What is Golfer's Elbow?

 

A common elbow condition in active, outdoor populations, golfer's elbow impacts the forearm's tendons. Similar to tennis elbow, golfer's elbow is considered an overuse injury caused by repeatedly grasping with the hand or flexing the wrist. However, where tennis elbow is tendinitis that affects the outer elbow, golfer's elbow impacts the inside section of the elbow.

 

How Do You Get Golfer's Elbow?

 

Despite its name, anyone who overuses the forearm muscles is at risk of developing golfer's elbow. People who routinely perform activities or play sports that involve swinging, gripping, or flexing are at risk of causing microtears in the elbow tendons. 

 

Golfer's elbow is very common in the following:

 

• Athletes who play racket sports

• Athletes who play sports that involve throwing movements

• Labor workers who use forceful repetitive arm motions, such as construction workers, carpenters, and plumbers

• Weight trainers

 

Smokers, overweight patients, and patients over the age of 40 are at a higher risk of developing golfer's elbow.

 

What are the Symptoms of Golfer's Elbow?

 

Symptoms of golfer's elbow can include the following:

 

• Pain in the inner elbow

• Tenderness in the inner elbow

• Elbow stiffness

• Pain when making a fist

• Hand and wrist weakness

• Numbness and/or tingling in the fingers

 

Like other cases of tendinitis, golfer's elbow symptoms often appear gradually before worsening. 

 

What Are the Treatments for Golfer's Elbow?

 

Dr. Joseph can often treat his golfer's elbow patients nonsurgically. Conservative treatments for golfer's elbow include:

 

• Icing 

• Bracing

• Physical therapy

• Anti-inflammatory medications

• Platelet-Rich Plasma injections

 

Surgery is rarely needed for golfer's elbow. However, if the symptoms don't subside within 3-6 months, Dr. Joseph may recommend surgery to remove the damaged tendon or promote healing. 

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Treating Golfer's Elbow in Vail and Frisco, Colorado

 

If pain on the inside of the elbow is affecting your life, contact Dr. Joseph and his team at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery today!