A certain golfers’ elbow treatment called shockwave therapy is a new non-surgical treatment where a machine is being used to generate shock wave pulses to the sore area. How is this helpful, as well as the other non-surgical golfers’ elbow treatment? First, we must learn what a golfers’ elbow is and what its symptoms are. Golfers’ elbow, also known as a medial epicondylitis, is an injury where the tendons that connect the forearm to the elbow are inflamed. The central nature of pain comes from a bony bump inside of your elbow that may radiate into the forearm.

It is usually caused by overusing the muscles in the arms, repetitive flexing, gripping or swinging that cause micro-tear in the tendons. The scientific cause of this injury is poorly explained but some doctors think that the forearm tendon develops small tears because of too much activity. The tears try to heal itself but constant strain and overuse makes it impossible for the tendon to heal itself that leads to the re-injury of the tendons until it stops trying to heal. The scar tissue has not been given a chance to fully heal naturally and this leaves the injured areas weak and painful. Golfers’ elbow is diagnosed through the doctor’s analysis on your detailed medical history and you must describe the level of the pain, its effects, your regular activities and your past elbow injuries. When the diagnosis is not clear, MRI (magnetic resonance scan) or ultrasound may be performed. This latter type of test can sometimes show collagen degeneration.

There are several options for golfers’ elbow treatment. We will focus on the non-surgical treatment. The solution to non-surgical treatment is to keep the collagen from breaking down further. Its goal is to help the tendon heal. If the trouble is caused by an inflammation, you can find relief from anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. But if it persists, there may be a need for your doctor to inject the injured part with cortisone, a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. The benefits of these medications are temporary that can only last for a period of weeks to several months. Another option in treating golfers’ elbow is the Shockwave therapy wherein patients generally receive this kind of treatment once each week for up to three weeks.

This is a new form of non-surgical treatment that uses a machine to generate shock wave pulses to the inflamed area. In the past, this kind of treatment has no determined explanation on why it works for golfers’ elbow. However, recent studies reveal that this kind of treatment can help ease pain and improve range of motion and function. Commonly, doctors recommend working with a physical or occupational therapist. For starters, you therapist will give you tips on how to rest your elbow and how to do your activities without applying extra strain on your injured elbow. Your therapist may also apply tape to take some of the load off the tendons and elbow muscles.

You can opt to use elbow straps, also. Your therapist may use the cold compress and electrical stimulation to relieve the pain and improve healing of the collagen. Since golfers’ elbow is frequently linked to overuse or overexertion, you therapist will work with you to reduce stress from repetitive activities. In an inflamed tendon, non-surgical golfers’ elbow treatment is most of the time only needed for about four to six weeks and when it’s due to micro-tearing of tendons, the healing takes longer that is usually up to three months and it is up to six months if the condition is severe.