As with many sports-related injuries, too much of a repeated motion can be problematic. This is true for golfer's elbow, a condition that causes elbow pain and numbness due to overuse from swinging a golf club and absorbing the shock. This condition is sometimes known as medial epicondylitis if it is due to inflammation or tendinosis if it is due to degeneration of your elbow tendons. Because numbness can indicate your elbow condition has advanced, resting and treating the elbow can ensure you are able to continue playing golf.
Incorrect Form
Gripping and swinging a golf club can take a toll on the muscles and tendons that start at your elbows and lead to your fingers and wrists. Because you put a lot of force behind the motion, this can place further stress on your elbow. Another factor that can worsen golfer's elbow is when you use improper form. The numbness is a result of pressure on the nerves from inflammation in the elbow. While the condition can happen to anyone, golfer's elbow and numbness is most common in men ages 20 to 49.
Treatment Necessity
If you experience numbness and pain related to golfer's elbow, yet do not treat your symptoms and continue to play golf, you could have serious long-term problems. Damage to your nerves can lead to chronic numbness and pain. Also, because the condition affects your elbow joint, you can experience a constant bend in the elbow, making it difficult for you to straighten your arm. Nerve damage and numbness may also affect your range of motion in the arm, restricting the movement of your golf swing.
Treatment
Golfer's elbow can be due to an inflammatory condition or as a result of wear and tear to your tendon. To treat the condition, you must take steps to relieve swelling and redness. Start by resting the elbow -- refrain from swinging your golf club for at least one to two days to allow time for healing. Icing the affected area can help treat numbness because it activates nerve endings in the elbow. You also can take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. Stretching the elbow, hand and wrist can reduce muscle tension and should be performed before and after playing golf. If your symptoms do not lessen with over-the-counter treatments, see your physician, who can recommend treatments like cortisone shots. In severe instances, surgery may be necessary.
Considerations
Golfer's elbow and numbness don't have to occur solely as a result of playing golf. Instead, playing tennis or engaging in any other repetitive motion activity involving gripping and the wrists and hands can cause golfer's elbow. This is especially true if you work with vibrating tools as a profession. Direct injury -- such as trauma to the elbow from a fall -- can also cause golfer's elbow.
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