Medial Epicondylitis - Golfer's Elbow
Medial Epicondylitis - Golfer's Elbow
What is golfer's elbow or medial epicondylitis?
Medial epicondylitis is the medical term for the degeneration and inflammation of the tendons that attach to the bony prominence on the inside of the elbow. These tendons correspond to the flexor muscles of the wrist and fingers, and are subject to accumulated damage from repetitive and overloading movements.
Golfer’s elbow is not exclusive to golfers, and is so named because of the association with the movements required to swing a golf club.
This is a less common condition than its counterpart on the lateral side of the elbow – tennis elbow – but it is equally disabling due to the functional limitations it causes.
What are the symptoms of medial epicondylitis?
Although there is no obvious traumatic moment from which pain begins on the inside of the elbow, overloading and repetitive movements over prolonged periods are common.
The pain begins in the region of the bony prominence but can radiate to the anterior region of the forearm, during simple activities such as carrying a bag or opening a door.
There may be a decrease in strength in the hand and fingers and a tingling sensation from the elbow to the fingers, usually the ring finger and little finger, resulting from irritation or compression of the ulnar nerve.
What are the treatments for medial epicondylitis?
The goals of treatment are to reduce elbow pain and inflammation, eliminate the probable cause, and stimulate healing to restore previous elbow function.
The first line of treatment is analgesia through oral and local medication. Physiotherapy is essential to eliminate the cause, by modifying the movement that perpetuates the complaints and, sometimes, adapting orthoses that reduce the load on the affected tendon. In refractory situations, infiltrations with anti-inflammatory corticosteroid agents can alleviate the symptoms temporarily or permanently.
Infiltrations with Platelet Rich Plasma – growth factors obtained from the patient’s own blood – are an alternative with promising results.
Surgical treatment appears as a possibility for cases in which pain persists despite the methods previously described.
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