I extend my greetings on behalf of Dr. Lee Jin-young, the clinic’s director.
Recently, there was a patient who visited our clinic complaining of difficulty due to golf elbow.
The elbow pain is so severe that I searched online, and my symptoms seem to match a condition called golf elbow. I don't even play golf, so I feel unfairly afflicted. I'm curious if my symptoms really match golf elbow and if people who don't play golf can get it too. I hope to receive proper treatment and recover quickly.
If you suddenly find yourself unable to perform everyday tasks smoothly due to pain, it must be really uncomfortable.
During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many people have taken up golf as a safe sport that can be enjoyed outdoors. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in the number of people experiencing golf elbow.
However, golf elbow is a condition that can affect people who don't play golf, like the patient mentioned earlier. Many may wonder why this is the case.
Therefore, in this session, I'll explain the causes and symptoms of golf elbow, a condition that causes pain on the inside of the elbow, in an easy-to-understand manner.
The cause of golf elbow?
"Golf elbow"? It's quite a unique name for a condition.
The name "golf elbow" is well crafted to easily remember the cause of the condition (similar to a golf swing) and the location of pain (elbow).
As the name suggests, golf elbow is a condition where damage occurs on the inside of the elbow (medial epicondylitis) due to excessive repetition of movements similar to a golf swing.
Its formal medical term is "medial epicondylitis.
Golf elbow? But I've never even tried golf, so what's this about golf elbow?
One of our patients actually said those exact words in my clinic. In fact, golf elbow affects many people who have never played golf. As mentioned earlier, it's not just about playing golf directly; it can occur from repetitive movements similar to a golf swing.
Therefore, golf elbow can affect a variety of people, such as chefs who frequently use their wrists, office workers, carpenters, baseball players, plumbers, and homemakers, among others.
Repeatedly performing movements that require strong wrist and finger motions can lead to tiny injuries in the muscles and tendons. If these injuries aren't given enough time to heal and are aggravated by further repetitive strain, they can develop into golf elbow.
Therefore, it's important to avoid overusing the wrist and to take regular breaks to allow for proper rest.
What is the symptoms of golf elbow? As indicated by its formal name, "medial epicondylitis," golf elbow primarily presents with pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow.
Pain on the inside of the elbow Pain aggravated by pressing or gripping Stiffness in the elbow
The symptoms of golf elbow are straightforward. Pain worsens with activities involving twisting or gripping motions of the wrist or arm, such as grasping objects or wringing out a cloth.
Additionally, upon waking and moving the arm for the first time, you may experience stiffness as the ligaments that contracted overnight begin to relax.
Today, we've explored the causes and symptoms of golf elbow. Next time, we'll discuss how golf elbow is diagnosed and treated.
"Don't delay your treatment at Seoul Blossom Rehabilitation Medicine."
In treating musculoskeletal disorders, the most crucial aspect is initiating treatment early, before the condition worsens.
Just as a wildfire spreads when left unchecked, musculoskeletal disorders become harder to treat once symptoms worsen.
At Seoul Painfree Rehabilitation Medicine, we offer weekly Sunday clinics and Wednesday evening clinics until 8 p.m. to ensure that patients receive timely treatment. Additionally, we strive to provide the highest quality of care through weekly case studies.
Led by a rehabilitation medicine specialist with a background in university hospital teaching and training, we also offer direct manual therapy from experts holding licenses as chiropractors in the United States, with over 50 individuals currently licensed.
Furthermore, we train our own physical therapists in manual therapy techniques.
At Seoul Painfree Rehabilitation Medicine, we wish for the health and happiness of all our visitors. Thank you.
