Not all sports related injuries are the result of contact. Many are caused by repetitive tasks, such as swinging a golf club, a tennis racket, or throwing a pitch. While not nearly traumatic as football players smashing helmets or boxers trading punches, they can do serious damage. Many professional golfers and tennis players have their careers cut short by these chronic injuries. They are so common, in fact, that we know them better by their nicknames.
Golfer’s Elbow vs. Tennis Elbow
Also known as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is occurs when the muscles of the wrists and forearms become overworked, which causes them to put additional stress and strain on the muscles and tendons in and around the elbow. This area may then become inflamed, resulting in soreness, discomfort, and sometimes pain. Because they practice and compete on a nearly year-round schedule and they only uses one arm to ply their trade, most tennis players suffer from tennis elbow at some time. About half of them seek medical treatment for the condition, which undoubtedly means that far more of them have bouts of it from time to time.
Just like tennis elbow, the injury that affects golfers is a repetitive one caused by too many forceful or improper swings. That’s right! Poor technique can lead to an injury, especially in sports or games that rely on excessive repetition using the same muscles groups. The only difference between the two is that golfer’s elbow involves an irritation of the inner side of the elbow, while the tennis version affects the outer, bony part. In most cases, the condition is the result of a poor grip and/or excessive force. In other words, swinging for the fences at the golf range is not a good idea. The old “grip it and rip it” technique can cause a repetitive stress injury.
Golf Elbow Treatment
Both golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow injuries can be classified as either chronic or acute tendiopathy, which means they cause inflammation of the tendons in the elbow. The inflammation from an acute injury generally responds well and quickly to anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen. But when the problem is a chronic one, it may mean that there is significant tendon tissue degeneration, which often requires more extensive and involved
golf elbow treatment methods.
It is important to note that rehabilitation should not begin until the injured elbow can move freely without discomfort and pain. To expedite the healing process, patients should follow the R.I.C.E method, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. It may take several weeks, even months of daily applications, but R.I.C.E is an effective
treatment for tennis elbow.
After the pain has abated, physical therapy that includes stretching and weight training may help strengthen the tendons and the muscles in and around the elbow. Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment for tennis elbow can last for several weeks or months.
Returning to form
It is an acknowledged and accepted fact that all professional athletes play with pain. When they step on the field, or court, or course, they are rarely, if ever, 100 percent healthy. Most simply play with discomfort and try to ignore golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow while they compete.
There is nothing that will completely alleviate nagging elbow pain, but with the right protective equipment athletes may be able to keep it from hurting their game. When it comes to golf and tennis, the hands are the body part that receives most of the force or shock that is created when a club or a racket strikes a ball. That force will then be transferred through vibrations all the way up the arm, and if the elbow is injured, the shock will aggravate it. Wearing a shock absorbing device, such as a brace on your forearm or a ring on your finger can reduce vibration and prevent it from reaching the injured joint.