The Physiology Of Golfer's Elbow

The muscles of the forearm that pull the wrist down are called wrist flexors. They begin at a common tendon attachment on the inside bump of the elbow called the medial epicondyle (below). As the wrist is flexed or the hand made to grip, the muscles tense and pull against the tendons. Force placed on the flexor muscles during a golf swing pulls on the tendons at the medial epicondyle.
Golfer’s Elbow, is similar to its counterpart, Tennis Elbow. The primary difference between the two is the location of the pain and the activity that leads to injury. However, both conditions are caused by overuse of the muscles of the forearm leading to inflammation and pain around the elbow joint.
These problems, Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow, are forms of tendonitis. Tendons are the ends of muscles that attach to bone. Because of the force of the muscle, the points of insertion of the tendon on the bone are often pointed prominences.
The medical names of Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and Golfer’s Elbow (medial epicondylitis) come from the names of these bony prominences where the tendons insert, and where the inflammation causes the pain. The pain of Golfer’s Elbow is usually at the elbow joint on the inside of the arm; a shooting sensation down the forearm is also common while gripping objects.