Elbow, Wrist & Hand
Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
Also called: Medial elbow tendinopathy
The inner-elbow mirror of tennis elbow: overload of the wrist-flexor and pronator tendons from gripping, twisting, throwing, and pulling. Same tendon rules apply — progressive loading heals it — with one extra consideration: the ulnar nerve lives next door and should be checked.
Common signs
- Inner elbow pain, tender at the bony point
- Pain with gripping, wrist curling, twisting (screwdrivers, golf, pull-ups)
- Ache down the inner forearm
- Stiffness in the morning grip
Seek help now if
- Tingling in the ring/little fingers (ulnar nerve involvement — see Cubital Tunnel)
- In throwing athletes, especially adolescents: inner elbow pain is a UCL/growth-plate concern until examined — arm goes to rest, not through it
- Trauma with deformity
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- Audit and modify the loading pattern (grip volume, technique, tool ergonomics)
- Begin isometric wrist-flexion holds progressing to slow loading
- Screen the ulnar nerve and, in throwers, the ligament — the neighbors matter here
If it's become chronic
- Progressive loading over 8–12+ weeks (medial versions often run a bit slower than lateral — normal, not failure)
- Throwers add a mechanics and workload review before return
- Persistent cases: nerve assessment and full-chain examination
Natural healing options we use
- Progressive flexor-pronator loading program
- Manual therapy for the forearm flexor mass
- Chiropractic care for neck-to-hand mechanics
- Attended e-stim; tendon nutrition support
About imaging
Clinical; imaging for throwers (ligament) or refractory cases.
Daily self-care
- Daily graded loading work
- Grip and technique modifications during rebuild
- Warm up the forearms before grip-heavy sessions
How we can help
More in Elbow, Wrist & Hand
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Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.