Elbow Pain Treatment for Golfers, Baseball Players & CrossFitters
Golfer’s elbow and lateral elbow pain are overuse injuries — but the overuse is almost always caused by upstream mechanics, not the elbow itself. Dr. Matt identifies the grip, wrist, shoulder, or swing fault creating the load and treats the full chain.
Why Elbow Pain Keeps Coming Back
The elbow is a transmission point — it transfers force between the shoulder and the wrist. When that transmission is efficient, the elbow handles the load fine. When grip tension is excessive, wrist mobility is restricted, or shoulder mechanics are poor, the medial or lateral forearm tendons absorb forces they weren’t designed to handle repeatedly.
In golfers, the casting motion (releasing the club early) and over-the-top swing path both dramatically increase medial forearm loading — which is why golfer’s elbow is so common in recreational players. Treating the tendon without correcting the swing mechanics or upstream restriction is why it recurs.
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylalgia) — pain on the inside of the elbow, worse with gripping and wrist flexion
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia) — pain on the outside of the elbow, worse with gripping and wrist extension
- Pitcher’s elbow / UCL stress — medial elbow pain in throwers, especially with valgus loading at late cocking
- Little Leaguer’s elbow — medial apophysitis in adolescent throwers — growth plate stress
- Biceps tendinopathy — anterior elbow pain with resisted flexion and supination
- Triceps tendinopathy — posterior elbow pain with pushing and extension loading
- Cubital tunnel syndrome — ulnar nerve compression producing numbness in the ring and small fingers
How We Treat Elbow Pain
Release the forearm tissue load, restore wrist and shoulder mobility, then progressively reload the tendon — in that sequence.
Kinetic Chain Assessment
Evaluate grip mechanics, wrist mobility, shoulder function, and swing or throwing pattern contributing to elbow overload.
ART — Forearm & Wrist
Active Release Techniques targeting wrist flexors/extensors, pronator teres, and brachioradialis — the primary overloaded tissues.
Elbow Joint Mobilization
Restore full elbow and proximal radioulnar joint motion where restriction is contributing to tissue overload.
Tendon Loading Protocol
Progressive eccentric and isometric loading of the affected tendon — the evidence-based approach to tendinopathy resolution.
Elbow Pain — Common Questions
Why does golfer’s elbow keep coming back after treatment?
Recurring golfer’s elbow almost always means the swing mechanics creating the medial overload were never addressed. Casting, gripping too tightly, or an over-the-top swing path all dramatically increase medial forearm loading. Treating the tendon without correcting the upstream cause is why it recurs. Dr. Matt integrates TPI-informed swing assessment with tissue treatment to address both simultaneously.
Is it golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow — what’s the difference?
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylalgia) affects the inside of the elbow — the flexor-pronator mass that controls wrist flexion and forearm rotation. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia) affects the outside — the extensor mass controlling wrist extension. Both respond well to ART and progressive tendon loading. The distinction matters for identifying which movements are loading the affected tissue and which swing or technique faults are driving the overuse.
How long does golfer’s elbow take to heal?
With root-cause treatment addressing both the tissue and the mechanics, most golfer’s elbow cases resolve in 6–12 weeks. Cases that have been present for more than a year may take longer due to degenerative tendon changes. The key factor is starting treatment before the tendon becomes chronically thickened and reactive.
Ready to Get Back to What You Love?
Same-week appointments available. Book online or call — no referral required.