Bones & Joints
Golfer's Elbow
Pain on the inner side of the elbow from overusing the forearm tendons — the inner-elbow cousin of tennis elbow, eased by rest and gradual strengthening.
📝 Summary
In short: Pain on the inner side of the elbow from overusing the forearm tendons — the inner-elbow cousin of tennis elbow, eased by rest and gradual strengthening.
Common causes: Repetitive gripping, lifting, throwing, or wrist-bending; Sudden increase in a forearm-heavy activity; Poor technique in sports or repetitive work.
First thing to try: Rest the arm from the gripping and wrist movements that cause it — the key step.
See a doctor if: Pain that doesn't improve with rest over several weeks
🌿 Overview
Golfer's elbow is pain and tenderness on the *inner* side of the elbow, where the forearm tendons attach, from overuse or repetitive gripping and wrist bending. It's the inner-elbow counterpart to tennis elbow, and most cases settle with rest, ice, and gradual strengthening.
Repetitive gripping, lifting, throwing, or wrist-flexing strains the tendons on the inner elbow, causing pain that can spread down the forearm and a weaker grip. Despite the name, it's far more common from everyday tasks and work than from golf.
Rest from the aggravating activity is the foundation, with ice for flares, gentle stretches, and a slow strengthening program once pain allows. It's usually patient but reliable healing; numbness or tingling into the hand, or pain that won't settle, deserves a doctor's look.
Common signs
- Pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow
- Pain that may spread down the inner forearm
- A weaker or painful grip
- Worse with gripping, lifting, or bending the wrist
🔎 Why it happens
Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.
- Repetitive gripping, lifting, throwing, or wrist-bending
- Sudden increase in a forearm-heavy activity
- Poor technique in sports or repetitive work
- Age-related tendon wear
✅ What to do
Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.
- Rest the arm from the gripping and wrist movements that cause it — the key step.
- Ice the inner elbow for 15 minutes after activity to calm inflammationThe body's natural response to injury — like redness, swelling, or heat around a sore spot. More →.
- Once the sharp pain settles, do gentle forearm stretches and slow strengthening to rebuild the tendon.
- Switch to warmth before activity to loosen the area, and address the technique or task that triggered it.
⭐ Community-ranked natural supports
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Ice the inner elbow for 15 minutes after activity to calm the tendon inflammation.93274
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📊 Compare these remedies side by side
Our editor score weighs sources, safety, simplicity, cost, and lifestyle fit. Source endorsements tally how many books and studies reference each remedy. A higher number isn't a promise — it's just a starting point.
| Remedy | Type | Editor score | Source endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest & Sleep | Practice | 97 | 431 |
| Cold Compress | Therapy | 93 | 274 |
| Warm & Cold Compress | Therapy | 88 | 254 |
| Turmeric | Herb | 83 | 186 |
| Gentle Stretching | Exercise | 93 | 122 |
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
Favor these
- Anti-inflammatory whole foods; turmeric
- Adequate protein for tendon repair
Go easy on
- Highly processed, inflammatory foods
An anti-inflammatory diet supports recovery while rest does the real work.
⚖️ Good to know
- Numbness or tingling into the hand suggests nerve involvement — get it checked.
- Pushing through the pain keeps the tendon from healing.
- Pain that doesn't improve over weeks warrants evaluation.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- Pain that doesn't improve with rest over several weeks
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness spreading into the hand
- Sudden severe pain or any deformity after an injury
📜 A note from history
Named for the sport but mostly caused by everyday strain, golfer's elbow shaped rest-and-rebuild tendon care.
📚 Learn more
Trusted, independent sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.
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