Golfer’s Elbow Pain: When Rest Isn’t Enough and What to Do Next

By Unpain Clinic on December 24, 2025

Introduction: Understanding Your Golfer’s Elbow Pain

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re struggling with the nagging ache of golfer’s elbow pain – and rest alone hasn’t done the trick. We hear you. Golfer’s elbow (medical term: medial epicondylitis) is that persistent soreness on the inner side of your elbow that can flare up when you grip, lift, or twist something. It’s frustrating when the pain lingers despite taking a break from golf or other activities. You might even feel a bit anxious or fed up, wondering if you’ll ever get back to your game or daily routine without that twinge. Take a deep breath: in this post, we’ll walk through why golfer’s elbow can stubbornly hang around, what the latest research says about treating it, and what to do next when rest isn’t enough. You’re not alone in this – and there are effective solutions that can help get you back to pain-free living.

(Disclaimer: The information below is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for personal medical guidance.)

Golfer’s Elbow 101: What It Is and Why Pain Persists

Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis or epicondylosis, is essentially an overuse injury of the tendons that attach your forearm muscles to the inside of your elbow. Despite the nickname, you don’t have to be a golfer to get it – any repetitive gripping or wrist/finger motion (think carpentry, throwing sports like baseball or javelin, heavy computer work, or even weekend DIY projects) can put strain on those tendons. In fact, studies show up to 90% of golfer’s elbow cases aren’t actually caused by golfing at all but by work-related or other activities that involve forceful, repetitive arm motions. So whether you’re a golfer, a tennis player, a tradesperson, or just an active individual, golfer’s elbow can sneak up on you with repeated strain.

What’s going on inside the elbow? Initially, golfer’s elbow may involve some inflammation (hence the “-itis” in epicondylitis), but research has found that in chronic cases, it’s more about degeneration of the tendon than classic inflammation. Tiny microtears in the tendon lead to a disorganized healing response – instead of smooth, strong tendon fibers, the body lays down weaker, messy tissue (sometimes called tendinosis or tendinopathy) that doesn’t tolerate stress well. Over time, the tendon can develop scar tissue, abnormal blood vessel growth, or even small calcifications. This means the pain can persist for months and the tendon won’t fully heal simply by taking a short rest, especially if you jump back into the aggravating activity too soon. The root issue – those microscopic tendon changes – needs to be addressed for true healing.

Symptoms of golfer’s elbow usually include pain and tenderness at the bony bump on the inside of your elbow (the medial epicondyle) and can radiate into the forearm. You might notice it hurts when you grip something, shake hands, turn a doorknob, swing a golf club or racket, or even when you pick up a jug of milk. The elbow can feel stiff, and you might have weakness in your hand or wrist. Sometimes there’s a bit of numbness or tingling into the ring and little fingers if the ulnar nerve is irritated (that’s the “funny bone” nerve running near the area). Typically, golfer’s elbow does not cause significant swelling or redness (if you see that or your elbow looks deformed or can’t move, get medical attention to rule out other issues).

So why isn’t rest enough in many cases? For one, if the condition has been building up for a while (often golfer’s elbow comes on gradually), simply resting a few weeks might not reverse the underlying tendon changes. You may feel a bit better with rest initially, but as soon as you return to the activity, the pain flares up again because the tendon hasn’t truly regenerated normal, strong tissue. Also, many daily tasks use those same elbow tendons – so completely “resting” the area is tricky. Factors like poor blood supply to tendons and age-related tendon changes (golfer’s elbow is more common over age 40) can slow healing. The bottom line: golfer’s elbow can become a chronic, pesky problem if all you do is wait it out. Don’t lose hope, though – this is exactly where targeted treatment can make a world of difference in kick-starting your recovery.

Why Rest Isn’t Enough: What Research Says About Treating Golfer’s Elbow

If you’ve tried the usual advice of rest, ice, and anti-inflammatories and still have pain, you’re likely wondering what actually works. The good news is research over the past decade has shed light on several treatments that can help golfer’s elbow when rest isn’t cutting it. Here’s a breakdown of key findings:

Eccentric Exercise – Strengthening the Tendon: One of the most effective rehab strategies for chronic tendon injuries (including golfer’s and tennis elbow) is eccentric strengthening exercises. Eccentric exercise means lengthening the muscle-tendon unit under load (for example, slowly lowering a weight). Why eccentric? This type of loading stimulates tendon remodeling and can increase the tendons’ tolerance to stress. A clinical study on stubborn golfer’s elbow cases found that adding an eccentric wrist flexor exercise (using a simple rubber bar) to standard physiotherapy led to marked improvement in pain and function where other treatments had failed. Patients who had suffered medial epicondylitis for months and tried things like cortisone shots or traditional physio finally saw their disability scores improve dramatically (on average, their pain/disability score dropped from ~35 down to ~8, which is a big change) once they did daily eccentric exercises for 6 weeks. In plain terms: progressive strengthening, done the right way, helps the tendon heal and get stronger. Resistance training doesn’t worsen tendon pain – in fact, studies suggest it can reduce pain and improve the tendon’s work capacity if done properly. So, exercise (especially eccentric and gradually progressive loading) is often a cornerstone of golfer’s elbow rehab.

Therapeutic Shockwave Therapy – Restarting Healing: At Unpain Clinic and many sports medicine centers, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has become a standout treatment for chronic tendon issues like golfer’s elbow. Shockwave therapy involves sending high-energy sound waves into the painful tendon area. It might sound a bit sci-fi, but here’s what the research shows: shockwaves create controlled micro-trauma that triggers your body’s natural healing processes – increasing blood flow, stimulating cell repair, breaking down scar tissue, and even waking up “dormant” stem cells in the tendon to form new collagen. Multiple studies and reviews support its use. A 2024 systematic review of 18 randomized trials found that ESWT significantly relieved pain in various upper-limb tendinopathies compared to placebo, with benefits maintained at 3 and 6 months follow-up. In the case of elbow tendinopathy, patients treated with shockwave reported less pain and better arm function than those who did nothing, and these improvements lasted for months. Another clinical trial compared shockwave therapy head-to-head with the typical go-to for stubborn elbow pain – steroid injections – and the results were telling: the steroid injection group got faster pain relief in the first week or two (as steroids often do), but by 8 weeks out, the shockwave therapy group had caught up and even achieved a higher rate of good/excellent outcomes in terms of pain and function. In other words, shockwave’s benefit may be more gradual, but it can equal or surpass steroid injections over a slightly longer time frame – without the side effects steroids can bring. The study concluded that ESWT was just as effective as a steroid shot by 8 weeks, making it a great option, especially for those who either can’t have or want to avoid steroid injections. Even better, shockwave is non-invasive and has a low risk of adverse effects (typically just some temporary soreness or bruising in the area). It’s particularly recommended for cases that have lasted >6 months or when other treatments haven’t worked. So if you feel like you’ve “tried everything,” shockwave might be the game-changer to jump-start healing in that chronically irritated tendon.

Other Cutting-Edge Therapies (EMTT and More): Besides shockwaves, there are newer technologies aimed at stubborn tendon and joint pain. One of these is Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy (EMTT). It’s a mouthful, but essentially EMTT is a form of therapy that uses high-energy magnetic fields pulsed into the tissues to reduce inflammation and encourage regeneration at the cellular level. Think of it like an MRI-strength magnet that, instead of imaging, is used therapeutically. Research is still evolving, but a recent double-blind randomized trial in 2025 found EMTT significantly improved pain and physical function in patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions (like rotator cuff tendinopathy and knee arthritis) compared to sham treatment. By 6 weeks, people receiving EMTT had better function scores and notably lower pain levels (on average pain scores ~2.2 vs 4.2 in the placebo group), and these improvements persisted at 12 weeks. This suggests EMTT can be a powerful add-on for degenerative tendon issues, helping where standard physio alone might not. At Unpain Clinic, we sometimes pair EMTT with shockwave in tough golfer’s elbow cases to maximize the regenerative stimulus – the shockwaves mechanically stimulate healing, while EMTT provides an electromagnetic boost to the repair process. It’s non-invasive and sessions are quick, with minimal side effects (some skin redness or mild discomfort reported, but no significant adverse events).

Bracing and Taping – Support for Relief: While braces and tape don’t “heal” the tendon per se, they can be useful tools to manage pain while you work on the underlying issues. A classic golfer’s elbow brace is a strap worn around the forearm just below the elbow. It functions by distributing the force away from the injured tendon attachment. By moving the point of tension slightly down the arm, a brace can offload the medial elbow tendon and often provides temporary relief during activities. Many patients find that wearing a counter-force brace or even a compression sleeve on the forearm allows them to grip or lift with less pain – it’s not mandatory, but it can be a helpful crutch. Kinesiology tape (those colorful strips often seen on athletes) is another option: taping techniques for golfer’s elbow may improve proprioception and support the muscles, potentially reducing pain during movement. The evidence on bracing/taping is mixed (some studies show benefit, others show no big difference), but anecdotally and in practice, if it helps you do necessary tasks with less pain, it’s worth a try. Just remember, these supports are adjuncts – they don’t replace rehab exercises or treatments that address the tendon’s health.

Injections and Surgery – The Last Resorts: For severe, chronic golfer’s elbow that just will not respond to conservative measures, there are more invasive avenues. Steroid injections, as mentioned, can provide short-term relief by reducing inflammation, but repeated steroid shots are generally discouraged as they may weaken the tendon over time and haven’t shown long-term cure in tendinopathies. Another injection option is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), where your own blood platelets (rich in growth factors) are injected into the tendon. Some studies have shown PRP can improve tendon healing in elbow tendinopathy, but results vary and it can be costly. Surgery is truly the last resort – it’s typically considered only after 6–12 months of failed conservative treatment. Surgical techniques for golfer’s elbow involve removing the degenerative tendon tissue and reattaching the healthy portion, sometimes with small incisions (and occasionally addressing any nearby nerve compression). Newer minimally invasive procedures like percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy (TENEX) use a needle-like device with ultrasound to debride the tendon without open surgery, and have shown good outcomes for persistent epicondylitis even at 3-year follow-ups. The good news is that very few patients with golfer’s elbow end up needing surgery – most get better with the right combo of therapies. Our goal at Unpain Clinic is to resolve your pain non-surgically if at all possible, so you never have to even think about an operating room.

In summary, research and clinical experience suggest that a multi-modal approach is best: combining therapeutic exercisesadvanced modalities like shockwave (and EMTT), plus smart use of supports or injections if needed. Now, let’s look specifically at how we implement these options at Unpain Clinic to get you back to swinging and lifting without pain.

Treatment Options at Unpain Clinic: A Comprehensive, Whole-Body Approach

At Unpain Clinic, our philosophy with golfer’s elbow (and any chronic pain condition) is to find why it’s hurting, not just chase the symptoms. By the time someone has tried rest and over-the-counter fixes without success, it’s usually because there are underlying issues that need addressing. We take a whole-body approach – meaning we don’t just examine your elbow in isolation. Often, we find contributing factors in the shoulder, neck, or even core stability that put extra strain on that elbow.
When you come in for golfer’s elbow, here are the main treatment avenues we may consider (all tailored to your specific situation):

Shockwave Therapy – Jump-Starting Healing

One of our lead treatment tools for golfer’s elbow is True Shockwave™ therapy (also known as focused shockwave). As discussed above, shockwave is an evidence-backed way to stimulate natural healing in a tendon that’s stuck in a rut. In practice, a shockwave session for golfer’s elbow involves applying a probe to the tender area of your inner elbow and delivering controlled acoustic pulses. It’s done in-office, takes only a few minutes, and does not require any needles or anesthesia (most patients say it’s a tolerable discomfort – often described as a little zing or thumping sensation). Shockwave’s effects are pretty amazing: it increases blood circulation and inflammation in a good way (a controlled re-injury signal that triggers repair), breaks down old scar tissue, and encourages the formation of new, healthy collagen fibers. It also has a pain-relieving effect by inhibiting nerve pain receptors and releasing endorphins. We often see patients who have had pain for many months start noticing improvement after just a couple of shockwave treatments – things like being able to grip a coffee mug or swing a club with less pain. Generally, a course of shockwave therapy might be 3–6 sessions (once weekly), and each session helps build on the last by progressively remodeling the tendon. And unlike a quick-fix injection, the results from shockwave last because it’s actually helping the tissue heal rather than just masking pain. (Remember Charles from our patient stories – he was skeptical after suffering elbow pain for over a year, but after shockwave therapy “the pain was gone” and stayed gone, allowing him to return to his carpentry work without issues. Stories like that are why we love this modality for golfer’s elbow.)

EMTT – Magnetic Field Therapy for Tendons

Unpain Clinic is one of the few clinics to offer EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy) in conjunction with shockwave. If shockwave is the hammer, think of EMTT as the repair glue – it works on a cellular level to enhance tissue repair. During EMTT, you’ll sit comfortably while a loop applicator sends pulsating magnetic energy into the elbow region. It’s painless – you might feel a mild tapping or warmth. For golfer’s elbow, EMTT can reduce inflammation and swelling around the tendon and may accelerate the regeneration of tendon cells. Clinical research in 2025 demonstrated significant pain reduction and functional improvement with EMTT in chronic tendon and joint conditions. We often use a combined approach: for example, doing a shockwave treatment and then a short EMTT session right after. The shockwave breaks up the bad tissue and calls the body to action, and EMTT provides an extra boost to the healing response. The result? Potentially faster and more robust recovery. Our own clinicians have observed that tough cases of medial epicondylitis that plateaued with conventional physio made a breakthrough when EMTT was added to the plan – patients reported that deep “gnawing” ache finally easing up. As always, individual results vary, but we aim to stack the odds in your favor.

Neuromodulation Techniques – Calming Overactive Nerves

Chronic elbow pain isn’t just about the tendon; the nervous system plays a role too. Sometimes, the nerves around your elbow and forearm become hypersensitive from the ongoing pain (kind of like an alarm system stuck in the ‘on’ position). We utilize neuromodulation techniques to help “reset” and desensitize the nervous system. This might involve therapeutic devices that deliver gentle electric or magnetic pulses to the nerves (for example, a device that sends a mild electrical current to stimulate the nerve in a way that diminishes pain signaling). It sounds high-tech, but the aim is simple: reduce pain signaling and re-train the nerves to be less reactive. One example is caliper percussion or frequency-specific microcurrents along the nerve pathways. Another is using the shockwave in a specific low-energy setting as a nerve modulator (shockwave has been noted to modulate pain receptors effectively). By calming the nervous system, we can often improve pain tolerance and get you moving more comfortably, which in turn aids the rehabilitation process. Neuromodulation is especially useful if you have a lot of nerve-like symptoms (tingling or shooting pain) or if your pain is out of proportion to what imaging findings show – a sign that the nervous system is amplifying the pain.

Manual Therapy and Myofascial Release

Our trained physiotherapists and massage therapists haven’t forgotten the basics: good old hands-on therapy can make a big difference for golfer’s elbow, especially in addressing contributing muscle tightness or joint stiffness. Often, people with golfer’s elbow also have knots and tight bands in their forearm muscles (the flexors) or even trigger points in the shoulder or upper back that affect how the arm moves. We use techniques like Active Release Techniques (ART), Graston (instrument-assisted scraping massage), or deep tissue massage to release tension in the forearm flexors and surrounding fascia. By improving the flexibility of these tissues, we reduce the tugging on that tender elbow tendon. Joint mobilization or manipulation by our chiropractors can also ensure your elbow, wrist, and even neck joints are moving properly – sometimes a subtle restriction in wrist motion or a slight nerve impingement in the neck can predispose you to elbow pain. During your sessions, your provider will skillfully work through these areas (yes, it might be a hurts-so-good kind of sensation!) and restore normal movement patterns. Patients often remark how their whole arm feels “looser” and lighter after manual therapy, which sets the stage for better exercise performance and healing.

Customized Exercise Program

No golfer’s elbow treatment plan is complete without therapeutic exercises. We will tailor a program to your specific deficits and phase of healing. In the early stage, if things are very painful, this might mean gentle range-of-motion exercises and isometric exercises (where you contract the muscles without moving the joint – this can reduce pain and maintain muscle tone). As you improve, we’ll guide you into eccentric and concentric strengthening of the wrist flexors and extensors. A classic tool we use is the FlexBar (a flexible rubber bar) for a wrist-twisting eccentric exercise, famously shown to help tennis elbow and now adapted for golfer’s elbow. We’ll also incorporate grip strengthening (e.g. squeezing a soft ball or hand exerciser) and shoulder stabilizing exercises – remember, a stable shoulder and scapula can take strain off the elbow. If your form in your sport or activity is an issue (say, you have a poor golf swing mechanics or you grip your tools too tightly), we’ll coach you on more ergonomic techniques. Education is power: we’ll make sure you know how to gradually return to your activities with proper form and pacing, so you don’t reinjure that healing tendon. The exercises are your homework and your ticket to long-term success – our team will ensure you’re doing them correctly and progressing at the right pace. Consistency is key, but we’ll keep it realistic with your schedule.

Whole-Body Assessment

One thing that sets Unpain Clinic apart is our thorough whole-body assessment, especially during your initial assessment (more on that in the CTA at the end). We look for any other issues that could be contributing: sometimes a tight hip or a weak core can alter your swing or lifting technique in a way that overloads the elbow. It might sound unrelated, but the body truly is interconnected. By addressing those factors – be it through corrective exercises, posture training, or even foot orthotics if needed – we ensure that once your elbow is healed, it stays healed. We don’t want to just put a band-aid on the problem; we aim to fix the root cause so you’re not stuck in a cycle of pain.

Throughout your treatment at Unpain Clinic, we emphasize communication and education. You’ll know exactly why we’re doing each therapy, and we encourage questions. Our shockwave expert and clinic founder, Uran Berisha (BSc PT, RMT), has helped many patients with golfer’s elbow who previously felt hopeless. He often says we’re not in the business of just alleviating pain temporarily – we’re in the business of giving people their quality of life back. And that’s our goal for you: not just to relieve your elbow pain, but to get you confidently back to the activities you love, whether it’s 18 holes on the golf course, a set of tennis, a day on the job site, or simply picking up your grandchild without wincing.

(Results can vary from person to person, and we’ll always adjust the plan to how you respond. The good news is that the combination of treatments above has a high success rate in our clinical experience, even for chronic cases. We will monitor your progress closely and collaborate with you on decisions – it’s a team effort with you at the center.)

Patient Story: From Frustration to Freedom

Sometimes it helps to know that others have walked the same road and come out the other side. Let’s share a quick patient story (name changed for privacy) that might sound a little like yours:
Meet John – a 45-year-old electrician and recreational golfer. John came to us after six months of worsening pain in his inner right elbow. At first, he brushed it off as “just a tweak,” but eventually it hurt even lifting his toolbox and pouring coffee. He tried rest – took two weeks off golf and avoided heavy lifting at work – and yes, it felt a bit better. But as soon as things got busy and he had to use his tools more, the pain shot right back, even worse than before. He bought an elbow strap from the pharmacy, which helped slightly but not enough. John was getting worried: his job depended on using his hands, and he couldn’t imagine living with this pain long-term. He described himself as “frustrated and a little skeptical” when he first visited Unpain Clinic, because nothing seemed to provide lasting relief.

In John’s assessment, we discovered a couple of interesting things. He had very tight forearm muscles (no surprise), but also notable weakness in his shoulder blade stabilizers and stiffness in his thoracic spine (upper back). This likely led to extra strain on his elbow when he was lifting overhead or swinging a club. We explained to John that our plan was not only to treat his painful elbow directly but also to fix those other issues to prevent the problem from coming back. This made sense to him – he joked, “So basically my golf swing and my work form have been all arms and no shoulders – no wonder my elbow’s yelling at me!”

John’s treatment plan included 3 sessions of focused shockwave therapy, spaced a week apart, to his medial elbow tendon. After the second session, he noticed he could grip a doorknob and turn it without the usual stabbing pain. By the third session, his pain at rest was virtually gone, and it only hurt with heavier effort. We also did EMTT sessions which he lovingly called “the buzzy coil” – he found these quite relaxing, and it seemed to further lessen the deep ache. Our physio guided him through eccentric wrist flexor exercises with a FlexBar and gradually increasing resistances, plus shoulder and upper back exercises to get his posture and shoulder mechanics on point. We also used manual therapy: some sessions of ART and cross-friction massage on his forearm flexors and a gentle adjustment to his upper back.

Fast forward a month and a half: John was back to working full days pain-free. He was diligently doing his exercises and had returned to golfing, but now with better form and a bit of moderation (no hitting 200 balls at the driving range in one go!). He came in for a final follow-up saying, “I honestly can’t believe how good my arm feels. I wish I hadn’t waited months to do this.” Stories like John’s are common – golfer’s elbow is definitely treatable, and with the right approach, you can reclaim the activities you love. The key takeaway from his journey: don’t just rest and hope; actively treat and address the causes, and you’ll break out of that cycle of pain.
(Individual results vary, and not every case is identical. But a comprehensive approach offers each person the best chance at a positive outcome, as seen with this patient.)

At-Home Care and Prevention: Tips to Help Yourself

While professional treatment can accelerate healing, there’s a lot you can do on your own to support recovery and prevent recurrence. We always educate our patients on home care for golfer’s elbow, because being proactive between clinic visits makes a huge difference. Here are some at-home tips and remedies:

Therapeutic Exercises and Stretches: Keep up with the exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist. Common ones include wrist flexor and extensor stretches (for example, holding your arm straight out, palm down, and gently pulling your fingers back with the other hand to stretch the forearm – you should feel it on the inside of your forearm for the flexors). Hold stretches for 30 seconds and do them a few times a day. Also perform your eccentric strengthening – often a slowly lowered wrist curl motion with a light weight or a resisted twisting motion with a FlexBar. Research has shown that this kind of eccentric exercise, done daily, is effective in rehabilitating golfer’s elbow. Don’t worry if you feel mild discomfort during the exercise; it’s normal, but it should not be sharp pain. Over time, you’ll notice you can do more reps or more resistance with less pain – a sign your tendon is getting stronger. Consistency is key, so try to make it a routine (some patients do their exercises while watching TV or as a morning warm-up).

Activity Modification (Temporarily): While you’re healing, it’s important to avoid overloading the tendon with the very activities that aggravated it. This doesn’t mean you have to stop everything – in fact, we want you to stay active – but be smart about it. For example, if golfing, you might need to reduce your play volume or intensity for a few weeks (maybe 9 holes instead of 18, or practice your short game instead of hitting full power drives). If your job involves lifting or tools, use that forearm strap brace during work to offload the tendon, and take mini-breaks to stretch your arm throughout the day. Listen to your pain: a little discomfort is okay, but sharp pain is your body’s signal to ease up. The goal is to find the sweet spot where you stay as active as possible without constantly re-irritating the tendon. As you heal and strengthen, you can gradually resume your normal activities. Remember, golfer’s elbow is an overuse injury – so managing the volume and technique of use is crucial in this phase.

Ice or Heat: For many acute or flare-up tendon pains, ice is the go-to for reducing pain and inflammation (especially in the first 48 hours of a strain). You can apply a cold pack to the inner elbow for 10-15 minutes after activity or if you experience a pain spike. However, if your golfer’s elbow is more chronic/stiff in nature, you might find that heat therapy (like a warm towel or heating pad on the forearm muscles) before activity helps to loosen things up. Some patients alternate – heat before exercise to warm the area, and ice after to calm it down. Use what feels best for you. Neither is a cure, but they can help manage symptoms and promote circulation.
Pain Relief Topicals or Medications: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory gels (like diclofenac gel) can be rubbed over the painful area to provide local relief. They’re not very strong, but some people get a bit of comfort from them. Oral anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs like ibuprofen) or acetaminophen can be used in the short term if the pain is quite bad – but these should be used sparingly and are not a long-term solution (and check with a doctor if you have any contraindications). They might help you get through a workday or sleep better at night during a painful flare. Always follow dosage instructions and avoid relying on pills alone.

Use Proper Equipment: Sometimes a simple equipment tweak can prevent a lot of pain. If you’re a golfer or play racquet sports, check your gear. Oversized or cushioned grips on clubs and racquets can reduce strain on the flexor tendons (many golfers with elbow pain switch to a slightly larger grip or a more flexible club shaft). Ergonomic golf gloves or vibration-dampening gloves are available – these can absorb some of the shock and reduce stress on your elbow during swings. If you’re doing manual work, padded gloves can protect your hands and elbows from vibration (for instance, jackhammer operators often use anti-vibration gloves). These items are available at sporting goods stores in Canada or online; look for terms like “anti-vibration” or “ergonomic” in the product description. While equipment alone won’t cure golfer’s elbow, using the right gear and maintaining it (e.g., not playing with a dead golf ball or a very stiff racquet string tension) can prevent additional irritation and help you perform with less risk of re-injury.
Therapeutic Taping Techniques: If you’ve learned some taping techniques from your physio, you can tape your elbow on your own before activity. A common method is using a strip of kinesiology tape along the forearm muscles with the elbow bent, which can offload the medial tendon. There are also instructional videos online, but it’s best to have a professional show you the first time. Tape can provide a sense of support and remind you to use proper form.

Maintain Overall Strength and Flexibility: Once you overcome this bout of golfer’s elbow, one of the best prevention strategies is to keep your arm muscles strong and flexible. Don’t drop the exercises entirely when you feel better – continuing a maintenance routine (even just 2-3 times a week of forearm exercises and stretches) can make your tendons more resilient. Additionally, pay attention to shoulder, back, and core exercises as these indirectly protect your elbows by ensuring other parts of your body are sharing the loads of your activities. A balanced workout routine can include some resistance training for the upper body, not just cardio or sport play.
Lastly, be patient and kind to yourself. Tendon injuries can take a little while to fully mend. You are on the right track by educating yourself and seeking proper treatment. If you ever feel stuck or unsure about your progress, reach out to your healthcare provider – sometimes a little tweak to the program or an extra treatment session can make a big difference.

With these self-care measures in place, you’re not just passively waiting to heal – you’re actively fostering your recovery day by day. Combined with professional treatments, you’ll be stacking the deck in favor of a full recovery. Now, let’s answer some common questions that people often ask about golfer’s elbow and its management.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the best braces or supports for golfer’s elbow available in Canada?

There are a variety of elbow braces and straps on the market, and “best” often depends on personal comfort and fit. For golfer’s elbow, a counter-force forearm strap is commonly recommended. This is a band that wraps around your forearm about 1-2 inches below the elbow crease. It applies pressure to the muscle, acting as a temporary tendon off-loader. Many brands (DonJoy, Mueller, Futuro, etc.) make these braces and you can typically find them at large pharmacies (like Shoppers Drug Mart), medical supply stores, or sporting goods stores across Canada. Another option is an elbow compression sleeve which provides overall support and warmth. Look for one that isn’t too tight (it shouldn’t cut off circulation or cause your hand to swell). If you’re unsure, ask a physiotherapist or pharmacist for a recommendation – sometimes clinics carry high-quality braces. The key is that it feels snug and relieves your pain during the activity. Remember, a brace is a tool to manage symptoms; you’ll still want to address the root cause through therapy. But as far as supports go, many golfer’s elbow sufferers find relief using a forearm strap especially during activities like golfing, weightlifting, or working with tools.

Which physiotherapy clinics in Canada specialize in golfer’s elbow treatment?

Many physiotherapy and sports medicine clinics are well-equipped to treat golfer’s elbow, but if you’re looking for advanced, specialized care, you might seek clinics that offer shockwave therapy or have sports rehabilitation experts. Unpain Clinic (our clinic) in Edmonton is one example – we specialize in hard-to-treat chronic conditions like golfer’s elbow by using shockwave, EMTT, and comprehensive rehab. If you’re outside our area, look for clinics that advertise tendon injury programs or sports injury clinics. Some tips: search for terms like “sports physiotherapy” or “shockwave therapy [your city].” Typically, clinics that treat a lot of tennis elbow will also treat golfer’s elbow, since the conditions are similar (just on opposite sides of the elbow). You may also consider a clinic that has multidisciplinary providers (physios, chiropractors, massage therapists, etc.) since, as we’ve discussed, golfer’s elbow often benefits from a mix of therapies. When you call a clinic, you can ask, “Does your team have experience with golfer’s elbow or medial epicondylitis?” and if they offer treatments like shockwave or specific exercise protocols for it. Canada has many excellent physiotherapists, so chances are you’ll find good care near you. Of course, if you’re in or near Edmonton, we’d be happy to see you at Unpain Clinic to give you a personalized plan!

How long does it take to recover from golfer’s elbow?

The recovery time for golfer’s elbow can vary widely depending on the severity and how long you’ve had it. For mild cases caught early (a few weeks of symptoms), you might recover in as little as 4-6 weeks with proper rest and rehab. For more chronic cases, it often takes a bit longer – perhaps 3-6 months of consistent treatment and exercise to get back to 100%. That timeline can sound discouraging, but remember that you’ll be improving along the way; you don’t usually have to wait months to see any relief. Pain typically decreases well before full healing is complete. With treatments like shockwave, we often plan for around 3-5 sessions over a few weeks, and many people report significant improvement in pain after the first 2-3 sessions (i.e., within a month). Tendon tissue, however, matures slowly, so even if you feel good, the tissue is still remodeling for a while. A general guideline is to continue your exercises and possibly taper treatments over a few months to ensure the tendon fully adapts. If you’ve had golfer’s elbow for a year or more, expect that it might likewise take a few months of concerted effort to turn the corner – but it will get better. Patience and consistency are key. Along the way, your therapist will track progress with you (like improvements in strength, reduced tenderness, functional tests, etc.) to make sure you’re on the right track.

Will my tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow go away on its own eventually?

Both tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow are considered self-limiting in some cases – meaning they can eventually improve on their own – but that “eventually” could be a very long time (research on tennis elbow suggests it can take 6 to 12+ months for significant improvement without treatment). And during that time, you’d be dealing with pain and limitation. Many people don’t want to live with the discomfort for that long, especially if it affects their work or hobbies. It’s true that some mild cases do resolve with rest, activity modification, and just the body’s natural healing over many months. However, a lot of cases linger or repeatedly flare up because the underlying tendon degeneration hasn’t been fully corrected. In our clinical experience (and supported by the literature on tendinopathies), actively treating the condition yields faster and more robust recovery than simply waiting it out. Think of it this way: yes, if you do nothing, there’s a chance it will eventually subside, but you risk it becoming a chronic issue that can drag on. On the other hand, if you intervene – with rehab exercises, treatments like shockwave, etc. – you’re helping to speed up and ensure the healing process. So while these elbow problems are not usually permanent, they can last a long time unattended. Most people find that’s just not worth it when effective treatments are available to help them feel better and regain function sooner.

What’s the difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow?

Great question – they are “cousins” in a way. Both are forms of epicondylitis (tendon overuse injuries around the elbow), but they affect opposite sides and different tendons. Golfer’s elbow is pain on the inside of the elbow (medial side) where the wrist flexor and forearm pronator tendons attach. It’s aggravated by motions like flexing your wrist, gripping, or turning your palm downward – think of the motion of swinging a golf club downward, hence the name. Tennis elbow, on the other hand, is pain on the outside of the elbow (lateral side) where the wrist extensor tendons attach. It flares up with motions like wrist extension or lifting with your palm down – similar to a backhand swing in tennis, which is how it got its name. In terms of symptoms, tennis elbow often makes it painful to lift things like a coffee cup or shake hands (pain on outer elbow), while golfer’s elbow might make it painful to turn a doorknob or swing a hammer (pain on inner elbow). Despite these differences, both conditions are treated with similar principles: rest from aggravating activity, therapeutic exercise (eccentric strengthening is beneficial for both), manual therapy, and modalities like shockwave. One notable anatomical difference is that golfer’s elbow sometimes involves the ulnar nerve (causing tingling in ring/pinky fingers), whereas tennis elbow sometimes involves the radial nerve. But the big picture: golfer’s = inner elbow, wrist flexors; tennis = outer elbow, wrist extensors. Some unlucky people can even develop both at the same time if they really overdo it (we’ve seen a few cases!). The good news is our approach at Unpain Clinic addresses both effectively by focusing on the tendon healing and correcting any biomechanical issues.

Conclusion: Getting You Back in the Swing

Golfer’s elbow can be a real pain – literally and figuratively – especially when it lingers despite your best efforts to rest and “shake it off.” The key takeaway is that when rest isn’t enough, it’s not the end of the road. It just means your body needs a more targeted jump-start to heal that stubborn tendon. We’ve explored how evidence-based treatments like shockwave therapyeccentric exercise, and advanced technologies like EMTT can accelerate healing, while a comprehensive rehab program addresses the root causes of why your golfer’s elbow developed in the first place. By combining these approaches, even chronic golfer’s elbow can improve significantly – getting you back to your golf game, your workouts, or simply living life without that constant elbow pain.

Remember, everyone’s healing journey is unique. It’s okay if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the options; you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our team at Unpain Clinic is here to guide you and create a personalized plan that makes sense for you. We’re warm, we listen, and we genuinely care about getting you better. Our approach is always empathetic and professional – like a trusted coach or clinician who’s with you at every step.

So if you’re tired of the cycle of “try everything, feel nothing,” and you’re ready for answers and real relief, the next step is simple: get a thorough assessment and start a treatment plan that works. You can conquer golfer’s elbow and get back to pain-free days. The rest of your life is waiting – let’s get you back in the swing.

Book Your Initial Assessment Now

At Unpain Clinic, we don’t just ask “Where does it hurt?” — we uncover “Why does it hurt?”
If you’ve been frustrated by the cycle of “try everything, feel nothing,” this assessment is for you. We take a whole-body approach so you leave with clarity, not more questions.

✅ What’s Included
Comprehensive history & goal setting
Orthopedic & muscle testing (head-to-toe)
Motion analysis
Imaging decisions (if needed)
Pain pattern mapping
Personalized treatment roadmap
Benefit guidance
 🕑 Important Details
60 minutes, assessment only
No treatment in this visit
 👩‍⚕️ Who You’ll See
A licensed Registered Physiotherapist or Chiropractor

🔜 What Happens Next
If you’re a fit, we schedule your first treatment and start executing your plan.
 🌟 Why Choose Unpain Clinic
Whole-body assessment, not symptom-chasing
Root-cause focus, not temporary relief
Non-invasive where possible
No long-term upsells — just honest, effective care
 🎯 Outcome
You’ll walk out knowing:
What’s wrong
Why it hurts
The fastest path to fix it

Book Your Initial Assessment Now

References

1. Lee SS et al. Effectiveness of initial extracorporeal shock wave therapy on the newly diagnosed lateral or medial epicondylitisAnn Rehabil Med. 2012;36(5):681-7. DOI: 10.5535/arm.2012.36.5.681 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2. Xiong Y et al. Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for upper limb tendonitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTsFront Med (Rheumatology). 2024;11:1394268. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1394268 frontiersin.orgfrontiersin.org
3. Konarski W et al. Current concepts of natural course and management of medial epicondylitis: a clinical overviewOrthop Rev (Pavia). 2023;15(3):84275. DOI: 10.52965/001c.84275 orthopedicreviews.openmedicalpublishing.orgorthopedicreviews.openmedicalpublishing.org
4. Tyler TF et al. Clinical outcomes of the addition of eccentrics for rehabilitation of previously failed treatments of golfer’s elbowInt J Sports Phys Ther. 2014;9(3):365-370. PMID: 24944855 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5. Hollander K et al. Extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) for musculoskeletal disorders: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trialJ Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2025 (In press). DOI: 10.1177/10538127251400083 portal.fis.tum.de
6. Unpain Clinic – How to Treat Golfer’s Elbow Injury in Edmonton. (Clinic webpage) unpainclinic.comunpainclinic.com