To avoid that the problems with the elbow get chronic, is important that one get treatment early. What kind of treatment that is the best one depends on the type of injury and how long since it occurred.

The first symptoms
Action: If one take action before a golfer’s elbow has settle, can it be sufficient with removal of load to get better. This can require adjustments both in work and daily activities. It can possibly be necessary with treatment like for instance physiotherapy and (if inflammation) anti-inflammation medicine/gel.

Avoid relapse: To avoid relapse is it very important to strengthen the muscles in the forearm and shoulders. In addition one ought to evaluate why one in the first place got tendency to golfer’s elbow; for instance are the forearms overloaded at work/leisure time, is it too much stress in life, is the problems with shoulder/neck, do you have sufficient amount of vitamins/minerals? Find out, for instance together with a medical doctor or a therapist, actions that ought to be done as regards to underlying causes for the golfer’s elbow. Remember that golfer’s elbow doesn’t need to be the actual problem, but a symptom for something else.

Golfer’s elbow
Type of treatment varies: The type and amount of treatment depends in large degree on how long time the patient has had golfer’s elbow and the degree of seriousness of the problem. What treatment(s) that be good for golfer’s elbow know we too little about among other things because it looks like it varies from people to people. But often it is a combination of treatment that is what help – where especially removal of load and physical excises are central.

Removal of load: Especially in the acute phase it is important with removal of load – something that will require adjustment according to work and daily activities. Removal of load and avoidance of activities that gives pain will improve several of the cases of golfer’s elbow.

Plaster cast: In extreme cases, where treatment doesn’t have any effect, one can try to put the injured arm into plaster, so it gets completely rest. But this is a drastic action that only ought to be done its absolute necessary that this result in reduced flow of the blood and the muscles will be reduced.

Physiotherapy: Exercises and especially stretching can be efficient. At examination one often finds that the musculature in the shoulder area and back is also affected, and it is important to treat all areas that can affect the forearm’s function.

Physical exercises: Exercise program is often a part of treatment of golfer’s elbow and a physiotherapist can help you put up a relevant program with different exercises and how many repetition you ought to do and what weight you should start with. It is important that the physiotherapist is thorough when going through the exercises to make sure that the patient will execute them correctly. After the patient has done the exercise for some time, the physiotherapist should control that the patient is doing them right.

Stretching: Stretching of the muscles in the forearm can have positive effect. If the problem really is in the shoulders/upper back should the muscles there also be stretched. If you have just had shock wave treatment or treatment with needles, you ought to, for å period, be careful with stretching the muscles that have been treated. How long you ought to wait depends on how much treatment you got and how through it was.

Needle-treatment: Treatment with needles can have positive effect. This type of treatment can both be done both at an acupuncturist and a physiotherapist with further education in treatment of trigger points with needles.

Shock wave treatment: Shock wave treatment can have good effect on golfer’s elbow.

Anti-inflammation medicine/gel: At inflammation in the vevet at the pain area, can anti-inflammation medicine have positive effect. If the medicine is too tough for the stomach, a anti-inflammation gel can be a good alternative. Be aware that golfer’s elbow can, as for mouse arm/tennis elbow, be mistaken for inflammation of a tendon, and in this cases is it no use to use anti-inflammation medicine or gel.

Cortisone: Cortisone can be injected in the problem area that usually gives a fast relieve of the pain. For some this treatment is very efficient. But for others it has only negative effect due to they don’t feel when they ought to take it easy. The result can then be that the golfer’s elbow become worse.

Surgery: When the golfer’s elbow pain has been prolonged and non-surgical treatments haven’t helped, there exist surgical intervention that can improve the condition. There are doubtful whether how efficient this really is even though it is experience for that many get better after a operation.