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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffGolfer's elbow is caused by damage to the muscles and tendons that control your wrist and fingers. The damage is typically related to excess or repetitive stress — especially forceful wrist and finger motions. Sometimes golfer's elbow begins after a sudden force to the elbow or wrist.
Many activities can lead to golfer's elbow, including:
- Golf. Gripping or swinging the clubs incorrectly can take a toll on your muscles and tendons.
- Racket sports. Excessive topspin can hurt your elbow. Using a racket that's too small, heavy or tightly strung also can lead to injury.
- Throwing sports. Improper pitching technique in baseball or softball can be another culprit.
- Weight training. Lifting weights using improper technique, such as curling the wrists during a biceps exercise, can lead to overload of the elbow muscles and tendons.
- Other activities. Painting, raking, hammering, chopping wood, typing and other repetitive wrist, hand or arm movements can result in golfer's elbow as well.
- Regan WD, et al. Tendinopathies around the elbow. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/189250272-3/968308279/2079/28.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00019-1--s0225_2496. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Jayanthi N. Epicondylitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Weiss LD. Epicondylitis. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/189250272-3/968308279/1678/22.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50021-3--cesec5_299. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Mercier LR. Epicondylitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/189250272-3/968308279/2088/225.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00014-9--s2275_4609. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 19, 2010.
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