Golfer’s Elbow Massage

A Golfer’s Elbow Massage is a focused manual therapy used to treat medial epicondylitis—an overuse injury affecting the flexor tendons that attach at the inside of the elbow. The goal is to reduce pain, muscle tightness, and adhesions, support healing, and restore function in the forearm and wrist.​

Signs & Symptoms

• Pain and tenderness at the medial epicondyle (inner elbow), often radiating into the forearm

• Stiffness, swelling, and sometimes warmth at the inner elbow

• Weak grip strength and difficulty performing wrist flexion, forearm pronation, or gripping activities

• Exacerbated pain with repetitive wrist movements or lifting, especially with palm-facing-down grip.​

Contraindications

• Avoid friction massage over the tendon if the client is taking anti-inflammatories—use only fascial techniques and muscle stripping​

• Do not use deep techniques or increase circulation to the lesion site during the acute inflammatory stage or when the area is actively swollen​

• Contraindicated if there is open wound, infection, nerve involvement, or suspected fracture

• Refer for medical assessment if pain persists or worsens despite treatment.​

Assessment

• Take a thorough history of symptom onset, activities, and progression

• Palpate for tenderness, swelling, and scar tissue at the medial epicondyle and flexor-pronator mass

• Assess grip strength, wrist/finger flexor muscle tone, and range of motion in wrist and elbow

• Rule out referred pain or other causes of medial elbow pain, and evaluate for activity and ergonomic contributors.​

Treatment

• Gentle effleurage, muscle stripping, and myofascial techniques for wrist flexors and pronators (especially if area is inflamed or if anti-inflammatories are used)​

• Progress to cross-fiber friction massage as tolerated in chronic or subacute stages—avoid if acute or client is taking anti-inflammatories​

• Focus on breaking down scar tissue and adhesions in the affected tendons and muscles​

• Stretching and mobilization exercises for the wrist, forearm, and sometimes shoulder for full kinetic chain recovery​

• Ice or moist heat may follow massage, always based on client sensitivity.​

Self Care

• Activity modification: rest from aggravating activities, avoid repetitive gripping

• Self-massage (light to moderate pressure) to forearm flexors and pronators

• Ice massage for pain relief in the early and subacute stages​

• Gentle, gradual stretching and strengthening of wrist flexors, extensors, and grip muscles

• Ergonomic changes and brace usage for additional support if needed

• Communicate with healthcare professionals if symptoms do not improve or worsen over time