Golfer’s Elbow: Symptoms and Recovery Advice
Golfer's elbow is pain around the inner elbow linked to the wrist-flexor and pronator tendon attachment. It can affect golfers, gym users, manual workers and anyone whose gripping load has risen faster than tissue capacity.
What does this mean?
Medial elbow pain also has other causes, including ulnar nerve irritation, ligament injury and referred pain. A precise examination matters before starting a tendon programme.
How we would assess this at Ben Cohen Osteopathy
We start by listening to the history and understanding which everyday, work or sporting activities have changed. The examination is then selected to test the most likely explanation and important alternatives.
test gripping, wrist flexion and forearm pronation
check the ulnar nerve, elbow ligament and neck
identify recent changes in volume, technique or equipment
Treatment and rehabilitation: practical examples
Treatment is individual rather than a standard sequence of techniques. Where osteopathy is appropriate, hands-on care may be used to help symptoms or movement, but the longer-term plan usually depends on progressive activity and rehabilitation.
progress forearm and grip strength
modify but do not necessarily stop all activity
reintroduce speed and sport-specific loading once basic strength is tolerated
What progress may look like
Progress is rarely perfectly linear. We would normally agree one or two functional markers—such as walking time, stairs, sleep, lifting, heel raises or return to training—and review whether capacity is improving. A temporary flare does not automatically mean damage, but a major or unexpected change should be reassessed.
When should you seek medical help?
trauma with instability, locking, progressive hand weakness or persistent ring/little-finger numbness needs assessment
Useful next steps
If you would like an individual assessment, book an appointment online at Loughton, South Woodford, Chigwell or Epping.
Frequently asked questions
Can osteopathy help?
It may help when examination supports a musculoskeletal diagnosis within an osteopath's scope. We will explain if another clinician, imaging or medical review is more appropriate.
Will I need a scan?
Often not. Imaging is most useful when it can answer a focused question and alter management. We will explain the reason if it is recommended.
How many appointments will I need?
That depends on the diagnosis, duration, goals and early response. We set a review point and avoid recommending treatment without a clear purpose.
This article provides general information and cannot diagnose an individual problem. Clinical recommendations depend on an appropriate history and examination.
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