Restoring Function. Embracing Life.
Golfer’s Elbow Specialist in Singapore
Dr Bryan Wang
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Trusted Orthopaedic Surgeon | Fellowship-trained in Canada | With over 20-years of experience
What is Golfer’s Elbow Injury?
Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, occurs when there is pain and inflammation over the inner side of the elbow. The pain is caused by damage to the tendons that help with bending of the wrist.
Despite its name, it is not limited to golfers and can occur in anyone who performs repetitive wrist flexion activities. It is caused by repetitive stress from gripping, wrist flexion, or forearm rotation—common in golf, but also in activities like throwing, weightlifting, or even excessive typing.
Some of the common causes include:
Golf: Repeated wrist flexion while gripping and swinging a golf club.
Racquet sports: Sports like tennis (using improper technique), squash, or racquetball.
Throwing sports: Baseball, football, javelin, and other sports that involve throwing motions.
Weightlifting: Lifting weights with improper technique or excessive wrist movements.
Repetitive occupational tasks: Activities like hammering, typing, or painting that involve repetitive forearm and wrist motions.
Understanding Golfer’s Elbow: Interview with Dr Bryan Wang
What are the symptoms?
Patients typically complain of the following symptoms:
Pain on the inner side of the elbow – often aggravated by certain motions such as bending of the wrist or gripping activities
Stiffness of the elbow – when the condition has been going on for a period of time
Weakness of grip strength - can occur when there is severe inflammation or tendon tears, and can affect daily activities
Numbness or tingling - in some cases, tingling or numbness may be felt in the fingers, especially the ring and little fingers due to swelling around the nerve nearby
How to Diagnose?
Clinical assessment will include taking a detailed history and a thorough examination of your elbow.
Further imaging tests like X-rays, MRI scans and ultrasound scans may occasionally be required.
Golfer’s Elbow Treatment
What are my Treatment options?
If you have any of the symptoms above, it is advisable to see an orthopaedic specialist for further assessment. The appropriate treatment is decided after assessment and a collaborative discussion based on your needs. Most cases of golfer’s elbow do very well with conservative measures and seldom require surgery. Treatment options can be broadly divided into conservative (non-surgical) and surgical options.
Conservative Treatment
Non-surgical measures will usually be recommended first if you have not had any prior treatment for your tennis elbow. Majority of patients do well with non-surgical management.
Rest
Minimise activities which aggravate the pain (sports, manual work, housework)
Ice
Applying ice packs to the elbow for 15-20 minutes 3 to 4 times daily to reduce inflammation.
Physiotherapy
Stretching and strengthening exercises targeting the forearm muscles and tendons can help relieve pain and prevent future injuries.
Medications
Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling
Brace
Using a brace centred over the back of your forearm may reduce symptoms by resting the muscles and tendons
Cortisone injection
Steroids are very effective anti-inflammatory medicines. This may be necessary if the pain is persistent despite the above measures
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
This is a biological treatment designed to improve the biologic environment of the tissue. While some studies about the effectiveness of PRP have been inconclusive, others have shown promising results.
Treatments of Golfer’s Elbow: Interview with Dr Bryan Wang
Surgical Treatment
If your symptoms remain persistent despite all the above measures, surgery may sometimes be required.
Most surgical procedures for golfer’s elbow involve removing the unhealthy tendon, improving the blood supply, and reattaching the healthy tendon back to bone.
The appropriate surgical treatment will depend on the nature of the tear as well as your needs (age, functional demands).
Open surgery
This involves making a small incision over the lateral epicondyle. The unhealthy tendon is removed and the remaining healthy tendons are reattached.
Arthroscopic surgery (keyhole)
This is performed using small incisions and instruments. This is useful when there are other issues within the elbow joint that needs to be treated (ie loose bodies, bone spurs).
