Golfer’s Elbow Treatment in West Los Angeles
We provide specialized physical therapy for patients dealing with golfer’s elbow — also known as medial epicondylitis or medial epicondylalgia — throughout West Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Like tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow affects far more people than just golfers. Pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow — often radiating into the forearm — with gripping, flexing the wrist, or certain throwing motions is the hallmark of this condition. It is frequently seen in golfers, baseball players, climbers, weightlifters, and anyone who performs repetitive wrist flexion or gripping tasks at work or in daily life.
Our goal is to help you reduce pain, restore full grip strength and forearm function, and return to your sport, work, or daily activities — for the long term, not just temporarily.
What Is Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is an overuse condition affecting the flexor tendons that attach to the medial epicondyle — the bony bump on the inside of the elbow. It develops when repetitive wrist flexion, gripping, or forearm pronation overloads the tendons over time.
A key difference from tennis elbow is the location — tennis elbow affects the outside of the elbow, golfer’s elbow affects the inside. Some patients have both simultaneously. Golfer’s elbow can also involve the ulnar nerve, causing tingling or numbness into the ring and little fingers.
Like tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow rarely resolves with rest alone. The tendon needs progressive loading to heal — which is why so many patients experience temporary relief, return to activity, and then have the pain come back immediately.
What to Expect
Treatment begins with a thorough evaluation to identify the structures involved, rule out ulnar nerve irritation, and determine the right approach for your specific presentation.
Treatment may include:
- Manual therapy to reduce pain and improve tissue mobility
- Progressive flexor tendon loading program
- Forearm, wrist, and shoulder strengthening
- Grip strength training and endurance work
- Shockwave therapy for chronic or resistant cases
- Activity modification and load management guidance
- Gradual return to golf, sport, or work tasks
For chronic golfer’s elbow that has not responded to rest or other treatments, shockwave therapy is an effective option we offer at our West Los Angeles clinic.
Who Gets Golfer’s Elbow
Golfer’s elbow is commonly associated with golf, but it is equally prevalent in people who have never swung a club. Activities and occupations frequently linked to this condition include:
- Golf and baseball/softball
- Rock climbing and bouldering
- Weightlifting and CrossFit
- Throwing sports
- Carpentry and construction
- Plumbing and mechanical work
- Office work involving prolonged mouse use
If your pain on the inside of the elbow has lasted more than a few weeks or keeps returning with activity, a structured rehabilitation program is the most effective long-term solution.
When to See Someone
If pain on the inside of your elbow has persisted beyond a few weeks, keeps returning with activity, or is affecting your ability to grip, swing, or perform daily tasks, getting a proper evaluation is worth it. The longer medial elbow tendinopathy goes without appropriate loading, the more chronic and stubborn it becomes.
In California, you can see a physical therapist directly without a doctor’s referral.
Our Goal
Our goal is to help you resolve your golfer’s elbow completely — addressing the tendon, the surrounding muscle imbalances, and the movement patterns that led to the overload in the first place. As your physical therapist in West Los Angeles, we use a proven combination of manual therapy, progressive loading, and shockwave therapy when needed to achieve lasting results.