This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Golfer's elbow

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Golfer's elbow is caused by inflammation of the flexor origin at the medial humeral epicondyle, where there is pain and tenderness. It is far less common than its counterpart tennis elbow.

It is characterised by pain radiating across the flexor aspect of the arm and there is pain on resisted pronation.

Medial epicondylitis is an overuse injury affecting the flexor-pronator muscles (i.e. pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus) at their origin on the anterior medial epicondyle of the humerus

  • onset can be related to occupation (e.g. consistent use of a tool such as a hammer, or in baseball when throwing a pitch)
  • examination should reveal point tenderness of the medial aspect of the elbow over the common flexor origin
    • this point can be found by palpating the elbow with the wrist held in resisted palmar flexion
    • discomfort with this manoeuvre is confirmatory
    • neurological examination of the upper limb should be normal
    • joint is not involved so ROM should not be affected

Investigation

  • diagnosis is made clinically
  • ultrasound is the investigation of choice if there is any doubt over the diagnosis
  • a nerve conduction study can be useful in excluding cubital tunnel syndrome

Reference:

  1. Arthritis Research UK (2011). Hands On (11) - upper limb in primary care.

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.