Golfer’s Elbow | Willoughby Physiotherapy and Chiropractic

Medial Elbow Pain, Fast Relief & Expert Rehab in Sydney’s Lower North Shore

Medial epicondylalgia, commonly known as Golfer’s Elbow, is a tendon-related condition that affects the inner side of the elbow where the forearm flexor tendons attach to the medial epicondyle of the humerus.

Despite the name, this injury isn’t limited to golfers. It’s frequently seen in tradespeople, desk workers, racquet and throwing athletes, and gym-goers who perform repetitive gripping, lifting, or wrist-flexion activities.

At Willoughby Physiotherapy and Chiropractic, our clinicians regularly treat medial epicondylalgia in patients from across Willoughby, Chatswood, Northbridge and Sydney’s Lower North Shore.

Most cases respond extremely well to evidence-based tendon rehabilitation involving progressive loading, manual therapy, and education around activity management and recovery.

• Willoughby Physiotherapy and Chiropractic – Our team provides expert assessment and evidence-based treatment for Golfer’s Elbow across Sydney’s North Shore.

• Fast pain relief and accurate diagnosis – We identify the underlying cause and start early management to get you back to sport, work, and daily activity quickly.
• Care beyond symptom relief – We design personalised rehabilitation plans to restore grip strength, flexibility, and tendon resilience, helping you prevent recurrence

Understanding Medial Epicondylalgia

Medial epicondylalgia is not an “inflammation” (-itis) but a degenerative and overload-related process known as tendinopathy. According to Professor Jill Cook’s continuum model, tendons progress through three stages: reactive, tendon disrepair, and degenerative. Each stage reflects the tendon’s response to load rather than inflammation — meaning treatment should focus on appropriate mechanical loading, not anti-inflammatory approaches alone.

Over time, excessive or unaccustomed load leads to disorganisation of collagen fibres, increased tendon thickness, and pain at the tendon of origin. Typical aggravating movements include gripping, wrist flexion, pronation, and lifting with the palm facing up.

• Localised tenderness on the inner elbow (medial epicondyle).
• Pain with gripping, lifting, or resisted wrist flexion/pronation.
• Morning stiffness or pain after rest.
• Weakness with carrying objects or shaking hands.
• In chronic cases, pain may radiate slightly into the forearm.

• Repetitive gripping, wrist flexion, or forearm rotation.
• Rapid increase in training or workload (“too much, too soon”).
• Poor tendon recovery or insufficient strength between loading sessions.
• Suboptimal shoulder and wrist strength, affecting load transfer through the forearm.
• Ergonomic strain — prolonged typing, mouse use, or tool handling.

Diagnosis is made clinically through a combination of:

• Palpation tenderness at the common flexor origin.
• Resisted wrist flexion or pronation tests reproducing pain.
• Grip strength asymmetry compared to the other arm.
• Exclusion of neural involvement (ulnar nerve irritation) or referred pain from the neck/shoulder.

Imaging such as ultrasound or MRI may be used if symptoms persist or surgical referral is being considered but is rarely needed initially.

• Shockwave therapy or dry needling may be considered as adjuncts but should never replace loading.
• Corticosteroid injections can relieve short-term pain but are linked to higher recurrence rates and tendon weakening — not recommended as first-line management.

With consistent loading and adherence to a structured program, most patients experience improvement within 6–8 weeks, with full tendon adaptation taking 3–6 months. Long-standing cases may require longer loading cycles, but outcomes remain excellent when guided by a physiotherapist experienced in tendon rehabilitation.

Ready to Fix Your Elbow Pain?

Elbow pain doesn’t need to stop you from opening doors and jars, gripping things, working, playing sports, or enjoying everyday life. Most conditions respond well to physiotherapy with the right balance of exercise, education and load management.

At Willoughby Physiotherapy & Chiropractic, we provide expert diagnosis, hands-on treatment and progressive rehabilitation tailored to your goals. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing osteoarthritis, or dealing with a sports injury, our physios will guide you every step — from pain relief to long-term prevention.

Serving patients across Willoughby, Chatswood, Northbridge, St Leonards and Sydney’s Lower North Shore. Same-week appointments available. Health fund rebates apply.