Medial Epicondylitis
Overview
Causes
Tendons connect muscles to bone. Repetitive or stressful movements of the muscles causes strain and pain at the tendon. The forearm muscles are active when a person grips an object tightly, such as a golf club. Doing this repeatedly can cause pain at the tendon. Other things that may cause this problem are:
- Gripping or swinging a golf club the wrong way
- Using the wrong model of golf clubs
- Hitting a tennis ball incorrectly
- Using the wrong size tennis racquet or the wrong tension of racquet strings
-
Doing certain arm motions too much, such as:
- Golf swings
- Tennis strokes (forehand or serve)
- Painting
- Raking
- Pitching
- Rowing
- Using a hammer or screwdriver
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
Symptoms happen slowly over time and may be:
- Pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow
- Pain that may go down the forearm
- Tight forearm muscles
- Stiffness or trouble moving the elbow or hand
Pain may be worse when:
- Shaking hands
- Turning doorknobs
- Picking up objects with the palm down
- Hitting a forehand in tennis
- Swinging a golf club
- Pressing on inside of the elbow
Treatments
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to ease pain and help with healing. Options are:
- Supportive care, such as cold or warm compresses and avoiding activities that cause pain
- Physical therapy to help with strength, flexibility, and range of motion
- Wearing a forearm brace to limit movement during healing
- Medicines, such as:
- Over the counter or prescription pain relievers
- Corticosteroid injections to ease pain and swelling
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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