Dodgy elbows....

[kozmos]

Evening all... I've had a pain in my left elbow for over a month now which isn't shifting, I'm assuming it's golfers elbow from hitting to many balls?? Maybe hitting off mats throughout the winter who knows. .. has anybody suffered with this problem before and how did you treat it? I have done a bit of research and from what I can gather, golfers elbow would be in my right arm and not my left? Any recommendations for a good support would be great. Thanks koz ps. Plenty of rest isn't an option

 

[bluewolf]

Right then.. First things first, where exactly on the elbow is the pain? Inside or outside?

Secondly, rest may not be an ideal option. but it may be your best option. Having spent all last year on the sidelines with an injury that started as "Golfers elbow", then I'd thoroughly recommend rest for a week or so.

Thirdly, the best elbow support I found was the blue one from boots that is about 7-8 inches long and fastens around your lower arm and upper arm.. Also, if there is inflammation, then get some Ibuprofen down your neck to reduce it...

Hope some of this info helps..

 

[RobRob]

I got tennis elbow (pain on the outside) a few years back from golf and sadly the only cure was rest and then I googled some exercise's to help and i havent had it since touch wood!

 

[richart]

Think you should rest until after the H4H day.

 

[kozmos]

Think you should rest until after the H4H day.

Haha might not be such a bad idea... protect the handicap n all that

The pains on the inside and I don't seem to have any inflammation

 

[kozmos]

Right then.. First things first, where exactly on the elbow is the pain? Inside or outside?

Secondly, rest may not be an ideal option. but it may be your best option. Having spent all last year on the sidelines with an injury that started as "Golfers elbow", then I'd thoroughly recommend rest for a week or so.

Thirdly, the best elbow support I found was the blue one from boots that is about 7-8 inches long and fastens around your lower arm and upper arm.. Also, if there is inflammation, then get some Ibuprofen down your neck to reduce it...

Hope some of this info helps..

Hi ... thanks I'll check that support out, the pain is on the inside of left elbow but doesn't seem to be inflamed. ...

 

[Fish]

I've got the same issue with my right arm, I've been playing on with that many Ibuprofen in me I rattle like a smarty tube when I swing, I have also been using Voltarol and TBH, it eases everything but then its stiff and sore the next morning so I don't think masking it is doing me any good! As such I have just cancelled my matches for this week and next weekend so I'm OK for the Beau Desert meet.

You say you don't have inflammation, but its on the inside, its not visible, it could be a tendonitis or a muscle strain. I've noticed mine also when pushing my trolley and even when using the mouse on the computer so I'm doing everything left handed currently

 

[Foxholer]

If you are a rightee, then GE would normally be on the right elbow.

It's quite possibly the same condition, but for another RSI/impact reason.

PC orientation or similar changed recently? Any other work-related possibilities? Motorcyclist? New kids? Obviously not ironing, vacuuming or washing dishes!

Best option is a visit to the Doctor!

 

[richart]

Golfers elbow can be on the left arm. If you bend you arm on the way back, and straighten and turn on the way through.

 

[kozmos]

If you are a rightee, then GE would normally be on the right elbow.

It's quite possibly the same condition, but for another RSI/impact reason.

PC orientation or similar changed recently? Any other work-related possibilities? Motorcyclist? New kids? Obviously not ironing, vacuuming or washing dishes!




Best option is a visit to the Doctor!

Yeah I'm a righty... sold the xer and iron with my right. 12 week baba too...

 

[kozmos]

I've got the same issue with my right arm, I've been playing on with that many Ibuprofen in me I rattle like a smarty tube when I swing, I have also been using Voltarol and TBH, it eases everything but then its stiff and sore the next morning so I don't think masking it is doing me any good! As such I have just cancelled my matches for this week and next weekend so I'm OK for the Beau Desert meet.

You say you don't have inflammation, but its on the inside, its not visible, it could be a tendonitis or a muscle strain. I've noticed mine also when pushing my trolley and even when using the mouse on the computer so I'm doing everything left handed currently

I assumed inflammation would be visible as there's no swelling of sort.. I do have pain killers available but have resisted the urge so far, if I don't swing a bat after a couple hours its okay but as soon as I start its back when bending gripping pretty much everything. ..

 

[Foxholer]

Yeah I'm a righty... sold the xer and iron with my right. 12 week baba too...

How do you pick up, carry and do all the other things for/with the bub? Left arm?

How's the sleep btw?

 

[kozmos]

but for another RSI/impact reason.

I think this could be the problem... just going through my swing mechanics I've realised that right before impact, my left arm is slightly bent and straightens out as I connect with the ball/turf/mat causing a jolt like flick if that makes sense.. I have never noticed it before. It makes perfect that the left arm should be solid with no kinks through the whole swing, am going to bandage it up so that I cant bend it at all and have a few swings... Genius!! Sleeps great by the way, she's an angel mostly... If I do wake up a quick nudge with the elbow and the missus is on it :mmm:

 

[Foxholer]

H'mm. Not sure about left arm always straight!

Maybe it's the repetitive 'nudge with the elbow'!

More Richart's thoughts than mine btw. I still think it sprog related!

 

[Doh]

Inflammation is not always visible the fact that you have the pain says its possible that the joint is inflamed at some point.

 

[kozmos]

Golfers elbow can be on the left arm. If you bend you arm on the way back, and straighten and turn on the way through.

Cheers buddy I'm pretty sure this is what's caused it.... strapped it up late last night then went through a few drills keeping left arm strong from top of back swing right through to impact, played this morning no problem at all

Still not 100% obviously but the difference is unbelievable!! No squinting before impact was bliss. ...

Managed to hit buffer with 35 points 3 blobs to boot.. won a bottle of vino for longest drive on the 13th, 265 in to wind leaving koz a happy bunny....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tend to get a painful left elbow especially from prolonged range work or hitting of a baked hard practice ground. If tend to just put some ice on it and take anti inflammatories and give the practice a break for a few days.

 

[the_coach]

Cheers buddy I'm pretty sure this is what's caused it.... strapped it up late last night then went through a few drills keeping left arm strong from top of back swing right through to impact, played this morning no problem at all

Still not 100% obviously but the difference is unbelievable!! No squinting before impact was bliss. ...

Managed to hit buffer with 35 points 3 blobs to boot.. won a bottle of vino for longest drive on the 13th, 265 in to wind leaving koz a happy bunny....

Good that the strapping up and the left arm drills have made a difference, maybe this now a complete cure.

In case it's short lived, a couple other things to ponder on maybes.

In my experience with folks with elbow problems I've seen. The main problem has been one of technique, rather than just practice on mats, or simply trying to keep the left arm 'straight' some.
Often what happens stems from over strong grip pressure which then tightens the fore arms up to much & the shoulders, so neither the body turn really completes properly but really important it stops the fore arms rotating as they should so a ways extra strain on particularly the left elbow into impact are more so in the follow through.

Usually it's been the strain of swinging with a more arms & hands swing to square the club face because of a swing path problem that disconnects the arms somewhat from the body during the downswing & through impact & particularly what happens next from the follow through just after impact to the top, finish of the swing.

The speed & centripetal force on the club head because of a swing path problem often with this problem to the left elbow in a RH occurs because it pulls the left arm away from the torso at the upper arm, this puts a ways too much strain on the elbow joint.

At impact because the body rotates, the fore arms (& not actively the hands) rotate too this happens with the upper left arm against the chest, supporting the arm, hands & club down through to impact & beyond.

If this doesn't happen because the swing path isn't as it should be so the arms & hands are very consciously turned over to try to square impact largely because the rotation of the chest & shoulders aren't turning through enough.
This flings the left arm out away from the chest & the extra hand action puts tremendous stress on the left elbow.

Best way to feel what should happen, as to how the fore arms rotate with the body turn to square the face through impact & that then the left arm is supported by the chest, is to do a little drill without a club, as the club weight & the sheer fact you're gripping a club forces your attention on the hands & club rather than how the fore arms rotate with the body.

Drill is simply take your address position & posture and just let your arms hang from the shoulder upper arms touching your chest with the hands 6" apart & in the open relaxed position they would be if you where simply just standing up. The hands have a relaxed cup to them thumbs relaxed & pointing forwards.

Just make a takeaway move, {but your hands stay 6" apart for the whole of this exercise} & body turn until your left arm is just past parallel to the ground in the backswing.

As you're not gripping anything & your hands are doing nothing, you should be able to notice how your arms rotate & your left elbow points down to the ground at parallel, your thumbs will be pointing skywards some.

From here just start the move to impact slowly with your left foot, knee & hip leading your upper body & arms, again as your doing nothing at all with the relaxed open hands you'll be more aware how the fore arms rotate back with the body turn & you can better see how this squares the club, & not conscious independent hand or arm action, also you should notice how the left upper arm stays almost glued to the chest.

From impact having cleared the hips just continue to rotate the body left,, you now should feel particularly with your left arm how it rotates much more than you've probably been used to just past impact, so now the inside of the left forearm very quickly faces the ball/target line & the left elbow points down to the ground & the thumb pointing skywards & slightly behind you at an angle.

If you can get this feel down in this slow-mo exercise, this is what you'll need to do to remedy both the swing path with the correct fore arm rotation, body turn rotation throughout the swing, doing it right keeps the left upper arm (bicep) very close to the chest, allows the correct fore arm rotation which doesn't put the very extra pressure you've been putting on the elbow which has caused the pain.

At the range just do this hands apart small drill, to feel particularly this left arm rotation from impact into follow through until your left & right arm are parallel in the through swing.
Once you feel this with a wedge at some easy 75% just make exactly this length of swing through the ball concentrating on the feel of the left arm rotation.

 

[kozmos]

Good that the strapping up and the left arm drills have made a difference, maybe this now a complete cure.

In case it's short lived, a couple other things to ponder on maybes.

In my experience with folks with elbow problems I've seen. The main problem has been one of technique, rather than just practice on mats, or simply trying to keep the left arm 'straight' some.
Often what happens stems from over strong grip pressure which then tightens the fore arms up to much & the shoulders, so neither the body turn really completes properly but really important it stops the fore arms rotating as they should so a ways extra strain on particularly the left elbow into impact are more so in the follow through.

Usually it's been the strain of swinging with a more arms & hands swing to square the club face because of a swing path problem that disconnects the arms somewhat from the body during the downswing & through impact & particularly what happens next from the follow through just after impact to the top, finish of the swing.

The speed & centripetal force on the club head because of a swing path problem often with this problem to the left elbow in a RH occurs because it pulls the left arm away from the torso at the upper arm, this puts a ways too much strain on the elbow joint.

At impact because the body rotates, the fore arms (& not actively the hands) rotate too this happens with the upper left arm against the chest, supporting the arm, hands & club down through to impact & beyond.

If this doesn't happen because the swing path isn't as it should be so the arms & hands are very consciously turned over to try to square impact largely because the rotation of the chest & shoulders aren't turning through enough.
This flings the left arm out away from the chest & the extra hand action puts tremendous stress on the left elbow.

Best way to feel what should happen, as to how the fore arms rotate with the body turn to square the face through impact & that then the left arm is supported by the chest, is to do a little drill without a club, as the club weight & the sheer fact you're gripping a club forces your attention on the hands & club rather than how the fore arms rotate with the body.

Drill is simply take your address position & posture and just let your arms hang from the shoulder upper arms touching your chest with the hands 6" apart & in the open relaxed position they would be if you where simply just standing up. The hands have a relaxed cup to them thumbs relaxed & pointing forwards.

Just make a takeaway move, {but your hands stay 6" apart for the whole of this exercise} & body turn until your left arm is just past parallel to the ground in the backswing.

As you're not gripping anything & your hands are doing nothing, you should be able to notice how your arms rotate & your left elbow points down to the ground at parallel, your thumbs will be pointing skywards some.

From here just start the move to impact slowly with your left foot, knee & hip leading your upper body & arms, again as your doing nothing at all with the relaxed open hands you'll be more aware how the fore arms rotate back with the body turn & you can better see how this squares the club, & not conscious independent hand or arm action, also you should notice how the left upper arm stays almost glued to the chest.

From impact having cleared the hips just continue to rotate the body left,, you now should feel particularly with your left arm how it rotates much more than you've probably been used to just past impact, so now the inside of the left forearm very quickly faces the ball/target line & the left elbow points down to the ground & the thumb pointing skywards & slightly behind you at an angle.

If you can get this feel down in this slow-mo exercise, this is what you'll need to do to remedy both the swing path with the correct fore arm rotation, body turn rotation throughout the swing, doing it right keeps the left upper arm (bicep) very close to the chest, allows the correct fore arm rotation which doesn't put the very extra pressure you've been putting on the elbow which has caused the pain.

At the range just do this hands apart small drill, to feel particularly this left arm rotation from impact into follow through until your left & right arm are parallel in the through swing.
Once you feel this with a wedge at some easy 75% just make exactly this length of swing through the ball concentrating on the feel of the left arm rotation.

Nice one coach :thup: thanks for taking the time to explain this in great detail... Going to put this into practice tomorrow! I'll let you know how it goes..