Golfer's elbow: causes, symptoms and treatment
A clinically reviewed guide to golfer's elbow — inner-elbow tendon pain and how it is managed.
Medically reviewed by D.C Matt · Lead Director
Last reviewed 1 July 2026
- Golfer's elbow affects the inner elbow (tennis elbow affects the outer).
- Most cases come from repetitive gripping, not just golf.
- Tendon-loading exercise is the mainstay of recovery.
What is golfer's elbow?
Golfer's elbow is an overload problem of the tendons on the inner elbow, where the forearm flexor muscles attach.
Like tennis elbow but on the opposite side, it usually arises from repetitive gripping and wrist movements in work, sport or daily life, rather than specifically from golf.
What are the symptoms of golfer's elbow?
The main symptom is pain and tenderness on the inner elbow, worse with gripping or bending the wrist.
- Pain on the inner elbow, sometimes into the forearm
- Pain with gripping or flexing the wrist
- Tenderness over the inner elbow
- A weakened grip due to pain
How is golfer's elbow treated?
Golfer's elbow is treated with load management and a progressive tendon-strengthening programme, alongside manual therapy.
Reducing aggravating load while gradually loading the tendon is central to recovery. Shockwave therapy may help stubborn cases. As with tennis elbow, recovery can take several months.
The Postura approach
At Postura Wellness, care for golfer's elbow is built around OrthoRestore™ — our signature method that combines chiropractic and physiotherapy into one coordinated plan. Depending on your assessment, it can bring together chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, muscle manipulation, Active Release Technique, and targeted exercises, supported where helpful by technology such as shockwave therapy and bioelectric therapy. The aim is to relieve symptoms while addressing the underlying causes, with a plan tailored to you.
Sciatica FAQs
What is the difference between golfer's and tennis elbow?
Golfer's elbow causes pain on the inner elbow (flexor tendons), while tennis elbow affects the outer elbow (extensor tendons). Both are tendon-overload problems.
How long does golfer's elbow take to heal?
It often takes a few months. A progressive tendon-loading programme gives the best chance of lasting recovery.
Should I rest completely?
Usually not. The aim is to reduce aggravating load while gradually strengthening the tendon.
Can physiotherapy help golfer's elbow?
Yes. Guided load management and tendon strengthening are the mainstay, sometimes with shockwave therapy for stubborn cases.
This guide is informed by patient information from accredited medical institutions:
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