Do you know "Golfer's Elbow"? It may sound strange, but it may be happening to you!

1. What is "Golfer's Elbow"?

"Golfer's elbow", clinically known as medial epicondylitis, is less common than "tennis elbow" (i.e. lateral epicondylitis). It is an injury that occurs on the inner side of the elbow joint, at the attachment point of the forearm flexor tendon. Local bleeding can form a hematoma, followed by traumatic inflammation, causing pain.

2. Who is prone to "Golf Elbow"?

1. Athletes who rely on upper limbs: such as golf, javelin, baseball, bowling, archery, etc.

2. People who engage in repetitive forearm movements: such as carpenters, bricklayers, fitters, textile workers, chefs, housewives, etc.

3. Females: Females are more susceptible to the disease than males, and most cases occur on the dominant limb.

3. What are the clinical manifestations of “Golfer’s Elbow”?

1. Soreness on the inner side of the elbow joint, especially when pronating the forearm and actively flexing the wrist. The pain may radiate along the ulnar side of the forearm to the hand. The pain usually worsens with certain movements; the wrist is weak and cannot lift heavy objects.

2. There is an obvious tenderness point at the medial epicondyle of the humerus. There is generally no swelling in the elbow joint, and flexion and extension activities are normal.

3. Positive forearm flexor tendon stretch test: extend the elbow, wrist and make a fist, then rotate the forearm externally or backward, causing pain on the inner side of the elbow.

4. In the early stage, there are usually no obvious abnormalities in the elbow X-ray of patients. In patients with persistent disease, calcification or bone hyperplasia may sometimes be seen around the painful area of ​​the medial epicondyle. MRI may show high signals at the attachment point of the medial epicondyle tendon. Color Doppler ultrasound is helpful for the diagnosis of medial epicondylitis.

4. How to treat “Golfer’s Elbow”?

1. General treatment: Correct incorrect postures or movements, avoid twisting the towel and other wrist twisting movements. Avoid long-term housework and upper limb weight bearing. Keep warm and avoid cold stimulation of the upper limbs.

2. Drug treatment: Oral medications, such as celecoxib and loxoprofen sodium. Topical medications, such as Voltaren ointment, etc., can control inflammatory reactions and relieve pain. Local injection of blocking drugs, such as triamcinolone acetonide, etc., can play a strong anti-inflammatory role.

3. Physical therapy: such as extracorporeal light wave therapy, ion infusion therapy, etc., physical therapy promotes local blood circulation and helps reduce inflammatory reactions.

4. Surgical treatment: If the clinical symptoms cannot be effectively relieved after 6 months of conservative treatment, surgical treatment can be considered to remove the local degenerated tissue and repair the common flexor tendon. Surgery is a reliable method for treating "golf elbow".

5. What are the preventive measures for "Golfer's Elbow"?

1. Focus on forearm muscle exercises to increase muscle strength and endurance, which will help reduce the occurrence of "golf elbow".

2. Reasonably arrange the training or labor intensity, otherwise excessive intensity can easily lead to muscle fatigue and injury, increasing the chance of suffering from "golf elbow".

3. Choosing the right equipment can reduce the risk of soft tissue injuries. For example, when playing badminton, choose a racket that is light and elastic to reduce the burden on your arms.

4. Pay attention to your posture when working. When twisting clothes, pay attention to your wrist posture and do not bend it too much. Use a cart when transporting heavy objects, and avoid carrying heavy objects directly by hand.

5. Get enough rest: Proper rest can help repair muscles and other soft tissues and reduce the risk of muscle fatigue and injury.

If you accidentally suffer from "golf elbow", it is recommended to go to a regular hospital for treatment and accept the doctor's advice. Do not treat it yourself or leave it alone, otherwise it will become more and more serious and affect your daily life.