The elbow and shoulder are common areas injured while playing golf. Overtraining, muscle tightness and poor swinging technique may lead to injuries like golfer's elbow and a rotator cuff tear. Signs of an injury are objective findings that are seen or palpated, whereas symptoms are what you feel and experience. Physicians use signs and symptoms to help diagnose an injury. Consult your physician for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Anatomy and Function
On the sides of your elbow you have epicondyles or boney projections where ligaments such as the ulnar collateral ligament, and upper arm and forearm muscles attach. These muscles flex and extend your elbow, and supinate and pronate your forearm and hand. You also have nerves that run through your elbow like the ulnar nerve.
Your rotator cuff muscles of your shoulder include the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. Tendons attach your rotator cuff muscles to your shoulder. Your rotator cuff muscles stabilize your shoulder joint and assist with shoulder movements such as extension.
Injuries
Golfer's elbow is inflammation around your elbow, and the surrounding tendons and ligaments. According to a 2001 article in the "Journal of the American Osteopathic Association," golfer's elbow is commonly referred to as medial epicondylitis but may also be referred to as lateral epicondylitis.
Rotator cuff tendinitis is inflammation of the tendon, usually due to overuse and repetitive movements. Tendonitis increases your risk of a rotator cuff strain, which is a tear to your rotator cuff muscle or tendon. A forceful contraction may also result in a rotator cuff strain.
Golfer's Elbow
Golfer's elbow symptoms include pain on the inside or outside of your elbow, joint stiffness and instability, and numbness or tingling from your elbow down to your fingers. You may experience an increase in symptoms with hand and forearm rotation, and elbow extension or flexion, which are movements required for a normal golf swing. Point tenderness over the injury, swelling and crepitus or a crackling felt underneath the skin are common signs. Depending on the severity of your injury, there may also be bruising and deformity around your elbow.
Rotator Cuff Strain and Tendinitis
Pain, stiffness and instability of your shoulder, along with loss of shoulder strength are common symptoms of a rotator cuff strain or tendinitis. Lifting heavy objects, overhead movements and swinging a golf club may aggravate your symptoms. You may also experience shoulder pain while lying on your affected side. Signs include point tenderness, swelling and muscle atrophy or decreased muscle size around your shoulder. Other signs consist of uneven shoulder height and erythema or redness of your skin over the injury, which is due to inflammation.
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment includes rest, ice, compress and elevation. Your physician may also recommend corticosteroid injections, physical therapy and surgery. To prevent elbow and shoulder injuries, warm-up prior to golfing, stretch afterwards and rest a few days a week. Avoid over-swinging and do not hit the ground with your club, also called a divot.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Rotator Cuff Tears; May 2011
- "American Family Physician"; Common Overuse Tendon Problems: A Review and Treatment Recommendations; John J. Wilson, M.D., et al.; September 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Rotator Cuff Injury Symptoms; August 2010
- "Journal of the American Osteopathic Association"; Elbow Injuries in Golfers; Alan R. Stockard, D.O.; September 2001
- "Clinical Sports Medicine"; Diagnosis and Treatment of Medial Epicondylitis of the Elbow; Michael C. Ciccotti, et al.; 2004
