Golfer's elbow
Golfer’s elbow causes pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow, which can make gripping, lifting and everyday use of your arm uncomfortable. Despite its name, it can affect anyone whose work, hobbies or sport repeatedly load the forearm and wrist.
What is golfer's elbow?
Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is a tendinopathy affecting the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the inside of the elbow. These muscles help you bend your wrist, turn your palm downwards and grip objects. The condition develops when repeated or excessive loading causes changes within the tendon. Although it is associated with golf, it can also affect people who regularly grip, lift, throw or use tools, including racquet-sport players, climbers, manual workers and people whose hobbies involve repeated wrist and forearm movements. Several conditions can cause pain on the inside of the elbow. If your symptoms are persistent, worsening or affecting how you use your arm, a specialist assessment can help identify the cause and guide the most appropriate treatment.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms often develop gradually and may include:
- Pain or tenderness on the inside of the elbow
- Pain that spreads into the forearm
- Discomfort when gripping, lifting or twisting objects
- Pain when bending the wrist or turning the forearm
- Reduced grip strength
- Symptoms that worsen during or after repeated activity
Some people may also experience tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers. This can suggest irritation of the nearby ulnar nerve and should be discussed with your consultant.
How is it diagnosed?
Your consultant will begin by asking about your symptoms, when they started and whether any work, sporting or everyday activities make them worse. They will then examine your elbow and forearm, checking for tenderness and assessing your movement, grip strength and response to specific resisted movements.
Golfer’s elbow can usually be diagnosed from your symptoms and physical examination. If the diagnosis is unclear, your symptoms are persistent or another condition is suspected, further investigations may include:
- X-rays to assess the joint and rule out other causes of pain
- Ultrasound to examine the affected tendon
- An MRI scan for a more detailed assessment of the tendons and surrounding structures
These findings will help your consultant recommend treatment based on your diagnosis, symptoms and goals.
How is it treated?
Treatment will depend on how long you have had symptoms, how they affect your life and what you would like to return to. Most people improve without surgery, although tendon recovery can take time.
Treatment may include:
- Temporarily modifying activities that aggravate the tendon
- Personalised physiotherapy and progressive strengthening
- Advice on sporting technique, equipment or workplace movements
- An elbow strap or wrist support where appropriate
- Pain-relieving medication, when suitable
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for persistent symptoms
- Injection treatment in selected cases
Your consultant will explain the potential advantages, limitations and risks before recommending any procedure.
Treatment routes for golfer's elbow
Most people with golfer’s elbow improve with non-surgical care.
Treatment usually centres on a progressive physiotherapy programme that gradually strengthens the tendon and forearm muscles. You may also be advised to modify aggravating movements while continuing activities that can be performed comfortably.
A brace or support may help reduce strain during certain tasks. If symptoms persist despite an appropriate rehabilitation programme, treatments such as shockwave therapy may be considered.
Treatment is designed to reduce pain, improve grip and forearm function, and help you return comfortably to everyday activities, work or sport.
Recovery goals for golfer's elbow
Recovery initially focuses on:
Reducing pain and irritation Protecting the tendon while it heals Beginning gentle movement when appropriate Avoiding activities that place excessive strain on the tendon
As your recovery progresses, rehabilitation aims to:
Improve tendon strength and flexibility Restore grip strength and control Increase confidence using your arm Return to normal daily activities
The final stage of rehabilitation focuses on:
Building strength for work, sport or recreation Improving endurance and coordination Returning safely to higher levels of activity where appropriate Reducing the risk of further tendon problems
Working with elbow professionals and teams
Our elbow specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their elbows. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Elbow treatment
How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Golfer's elbow FAQs
Recovery varies depending on how severe your symptoms are and how long you've had them. Many people notice improvement over several months with physiotherapy and activity modification, although more persistent cases can take longer. Your consultant and physiotherapist will guide your recovery based on your symptoms and goals.
Not usually. Most people improve with non-surgical treatment, including physiotherapy, activity modification and, where appropriate, other treatments such as shockwave therapy. Surgery is generally only considered if your symptoms continue despite a prolonged course of appropriate rehabilitation.
In many cases, yes. Staying active is often encouraged, but you may need to modify activities that place repeated strain on the tendon while it recovers. Your physiotherapist will advise you on how to exercise safely and when it's appropriate to return to higher-impact activities or sport.
Yes. Symptoms can return if the tendon is repeatedly overloaded before it has fully recovered or if the underlying cause isn't addressed. Following your rehabilitation programme, gradually increasing activity levels and making any recommended changes to your technique or equipment can help reduce the risk of symptoms returning.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
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