HEP: Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylalgia)
Patient Education
What’s going on?
Muscle strength imbalances can increase stress or wear and tear on the muscles around the elbow, which over time can increase elbow pain and/or dysfunction.
Exacerbation of this pain will occur when manual activities such as heavy lifting or repetitive activities with the wrist such as tennis, writing or using tools such as a screwdriver persist.
Forceful gripping and twisting has been shown by the research to cause many overuse injuries of the upper extremity.
How long will it take?
This condition will take about 6 weeks to fully recover, but rest and activity modification are essential.
How will we treat your condition at IHSM?
At IHSM, a doctor of physical therapy will perform a detailed physical examination to determine which muscles need to be stronger and which need to be more flexible.
Based on the findings, your therapist will design a specific treatment plan to ensure an optimal recovery.
This includes a program to restore optimal posture positioning, exercises to build muscle strength and stretches to promote flexibility. These techniques will restore the proper muscle balance to the upper extremity.
Soft tissue mobilization of the muscle can be done to improve the flexibility of the muscles and tissues.
Modalities such as acupuncture, or electrical stimulation may also be used to decrease inflammation and control the pain in your elbow.
Your therapist will also work with you to help explore ways to perform bothersome activities in a more comfortable manner.
What can you do to help yourself?
Avoid activities that require repetitive or excessive lifting.
Try to minimize repetitive activities that include gripping or twisting.
Avoid steroid injections to the elbow because research shows that long term outcomes are worse.
If you do get an injection, make sure you continue to rest and modify your activities.
Follow through with the exercise program for strengthening to improve your muscle strength.
Perform your stretches to increase muscle length.
Adherence to the exercise program is essential to ensure optimal recovery.
You may apply ice in the early painful phases or heat packs to the elbow up to 15 minutes to decrease pain and increase blood flow.
Refrain from performing activities that exacerbate the pain.
Ensure that the racquet handle size is the right size for your hand to minimize having to grip too tight.
Use tools that have larger grips that fit your hand well.
It may be useful to use your non-dominant hand whenever you can to reduce the stress to your irritated muscles.
Instructions:
You may do the stretching exercises right away. You may do the strengthening exercises when stretching is nearly painless.
About IHSM
Integrative Health and Sports Medicine, LLC is a one-stop health and wellness center. Our mission is to restore our patients to a healthy, pain-free, and productive life. By combining orthopedic physical therapy techniques, sports medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine, we are able to treat conditions and achieve results in cases that have not responded well to modern Western medicine.
We are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Please email us at info@integrativesports.com to schedule a consultation and let us help you on your journey to optimal health.
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