subject: Golfer's Elbow - Find Out Whether You Are Vulnerable to Suffering from Golfer's Elbow [print this page] Golfer's Elbow - Find Out Whether You Are Vulnerable to Suffering from Golfer's Elbow
Golfer's Elbow is the most common cause of pain on the inside of the elbow in the United States. It is also known by its medical nam: Medial Epicondylitis to. Itis, however, less common than Tennis Elbow (medical name: Lateral Epicondylitis) which affects the outside of the elbow.
Approximately 60% of sufferers of Golfer's Elbow are afflicted by the condition in their dominant elbow. Nearly a third of sufferers (30%) have an acute onset with 70% having an insidious onset.
Who is at risk?
Golfer Elbow, most commonly, affects people aged between 20 and 49 years. However, the condition can also occur in teens and older adults, especially in those people who are involved in hobbies, jobs, or sports activities that make them prone to overuse injuries.
In general, men are twice as likely to suffer from Golfer's Elbow than women however, there is no evidence that indicates the condition favours a particular race.
What Are the risk factors?
Sporting Activities
As its name would suggest, playing golf is a major contributory risk factor. As mentioned earlier, golfer's normally suffer from Golfer's Elbow in their dominant elbow.
There are other sporting activities however, that also pose risk factors for the onset of Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow) e.g. tennis players who hit their forehand with a heavy topspin have an increased risk for developing the condition.
Some of the more common sporting activities for which participants are at risk of developing Golfer's Elbow are listed below however, the list is not exhaustive:
Archery
Baseball & other sports involving throwing
Bowling
Fencing
Swimming
Tennis
Weight lifting
Golfer's Elbow is a repetitive strain injury normally associated with repeated use of the tendons in the forearm however, it can also be brought on after a sudden hard bump, such as hitting a rock or a tree root while playing a full shot.
Non-sporting Activities
It also affects people who rely on the use of their hands in their work to conduct repetitive activity involving the forearm muscles and tendons, e.g. chopping wood or hammering nails.
It could therefore, affect just about anyone: laboratory technicians, dental hygienists, office workers, meat processors, train conductors, small parts manufacturers and many more all rely on the flexor muscles in their forearm to wrap their hands around instruments, type on keyboards and grip objects both large and small.
About Risk Factors
Risk factors are factors that may not be a direct cause of the condition, but can be associated in some way.
Having one of the aforementioned risk factors increases the chances of getting the condition but does not always lead to Golfer's Elbow.
In addition, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard against getting the condition.
