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- Yes, you can make golfer’s elbow worse by activities that cause you to turn or twist it (Source)
- Golfer’s elbow is usually caused by overuse, so be careful to not overuse your arm
- Ice the area for relief
- Take medication to ease pain
- Strengthen your arm muscles and stretch before physical activity
- If discomfort persists, see a doctor
- Surgery is rarely necessary but may be an option for severe cases
I was playing golf with my buddies, and I started to feel a pain in my elbow. It wasn’t too bad at first, but it gradually got worse. I soon realized that I had golfer’s elbow.
I tried resting my arm and using ice packs, but the pain didn’t go away. I went to see my health care provider, who confirmed that I had golfer’s elbow. He prescribed some physical therapy exercises to do at home.
These included eccentric exercises, which are designed to strengthen and stretch the muscles and tendons around the elbow.
I did the exercises consistently for several weeks, and eventually my symptoms went away. I was able to return to playing golf without pain. I was careful to avoid overusing my elbow, and I made sure to warm up and stretch before playing.
It was frustrating having to take things slow and steady for a few months, but eventually the pain went away and I was able to play golf again without any problems.
Now, I tell my golfing buddies about how important it is to warm up and stretch before playing, and I make sure to take care of my elbow so that I don’t have any problems in the future.
Golfer’s elbow is a very painful condition. People who suffer from this medical problem are normally adversely affected by these issues when the tendons in their elbows are overloaded.
And this problem usually occurs when there is inflammation on the inner side of the elbow and the arm. In essence, a golfer’s elbow is caused by repetitive motions and overuse of the forearm muscles.
Though the name implies that only athletes that play golf can develop this medical problem, this is far from true. This is because anyone can suffer from a golfers elbow at any point in time. For instance, some jobs that are more prone to this type of repetitive motion issue are as follows:
- Painters
- Plumbers
- Assembly-line workers
- Computer users
- Butchers
- Construction workers
- Cooks
People who work with their hands are much more likely to suffer from golfers’ elbow than people who don’t. In either case, this condition is often described as pain in the tendons, specifically the pain that is found in the bony bump that is outside of the elbow. The symptoms that people feel are also similar to those of tennis elbow.
So, Can You Make Golfer’s Elbow Worse?
Now that you know what causes golfers’ elbow, you need to also know if you can make it worse. The answer to this question is yes. This is because, over time, they can worsen, especially if you are not careful.
For instance, if you keep on doing the same activities with the same intensity, you can cause your elbow to become inflamed and more painful. In fact, any activities that further exacerbate the problem will not only make matters worse but also a certain amount of damage to the elbow.
With that being said, here are some tips on how to prevent golfers’ elbows from becoming more painful.
- Tip #1 – Make sure to limit the number of activities that you do with this part of your body.
- Tip #2 – Take over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce the inflammation
- Tip #3 – If the pain persists, see your doctor for treatment options.
What are the Symptoms of a Golfers elbow?
There are a few symptoms that are normally associated with this type of condition. Usually, the pain that people suffer from can be mild to severe and can radiate from outside of the elbow into the wrist and the forearm.
Due to the pain that the person experiences, it may be difficult to do any kind of physical activity that involves the upper arm, hand, and forearm. For example, the person may have a difficult time lifting heavy objects, pulling objects away from himself, or any other movements that involve the symptomatic side.
Causes of Golfers’ Elbow
As mentioned above, the causes of golfers’ elbow are normally due to repetitive motions. The most common causes of golfers’ elbow, however, are muscle strain injuries and overuse. Therefore, it is important that people become familiar with the things that can make their life better.
By understanding the causes of golfers’ elbow and what to expect, you can stand a better chance of preventing the condition from developing. Here are some of the common causes based on the different types of occupations and job functions that may result in lots of repetitive motion.
- Hammering
- Typing
- Raking
- Pitching sports
- Painting
- Gardening
- Shoveling
- Playing golf
- fencing
Conclusion
Can you make golfers’ elbows worse? The answer to this question is yes. Because the initial cause of this condition is due to lots of repetitive motion, these problems will continue to worsen if you continue to do the same activities over and over again.
The good news is that you can prevent golfers’ elbows by taking the necessary precautions. Also, if you are experiencing severe pain you may need to see a doctor for treatment. Whatever the case may be, it is important that you take the appropriate measures early to prevent the problem from getting worse.
Hi, my name is Vince Richmond and I am the owner of earlygolfer.com. This blog is all about golfing, from tips and tricks to equipment reviews and everything in between. I have been golfing for over 20 years now and love the sport more than ever. I am always looking to improve my game and help others do the same. When I’m not golfing, I can be found spending time with my wife and two kids or playing some other sport (I’m a bit of a sports junkie). Thanks for reading and be sure to check out earlygolfer.com for all your golfing needs!