Conditions we help with
Massage for golfers elbow
Pain on the inside of the elbow that makes gripping and lifting uncomfortable, and it is far more often about a day of work than a round of golf.
- Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Practising since 2007
- Level 4 SMA therapists
- Treated Olympic and Commonwealth athletes
The short answer
Can massage help golfers elbow?
Golfer's elbow is pain on the inside of the elbow that comes from overloading the forearm muscles you use to bend your wrist and grip. Massage may help ease tension in those muscles and make gripping and lifting more comfortable while the tendon settles. It works best alongside rest, changes to how you use your arm and the exercises your GP or physiotherapist recommends.
Where it tends to help
Tight muscles through the inner forearm, and the gripping, carrying and lifting that has become uncomfortable because of it.
When to see a GP first
Tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers can mean the ulnar nerve is involved, and that needs checking before a treatment table.
Written by Richard Clarke, senior therapist. Sports and exercise science honours degree, with research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the International Journal of Sports Medicine. Last reviewed November 2026.
The anatomy, in plain English
What it actually is
The muscles that bend your wrist and fingers and turn your palm to face down run along the inner side of your forearm. They join a shared tendon, the common flexor tendon, at the bony bump on the inside of your elbow called the medial epicondyle.
Golfer's elbow happens when this tendon becomes irritated where it attaches to the bone. Its medical names are medial epicondylitis and medial elbow tendinopathy. It is the mirror image of tennis elbow, which affects the outside of the elbow, and it is less common.
How people describe it
What it feels like
- Pain and tenderness on the bony bump on the inside of the elbow
- An ache that spreads down the inner forearm towards the wrist
- Pain when gripping, lifting, carrying bags or turning a jar lid
- A forearm that feels stiff or tired, and a grip that feels weaker
According to Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, the pain is felt around the inside of the elbow and can spread into the forearm. It mainly affects people between 40 and 60.
Causes
Why it happens
Golfer's elbow is an overuse problem. It builds up when the forearm tendons are strained by repeated, strenuous gripping or wrist work, and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust notes that it usually affects the dominant arm. Golf is one cause, but the everyday ones are more common:
Work
Trade work with hand tools, lifting and carrying, and repetitive assembly or packing tasks.
Home
Gardening, DIY and carrying heavy shopping.
Sport
Golf, throwing sports, racket sports, climbing and weight training with a heavy grip.
The honest picture
How massage helps, and what it cannot do
Massage does not repair an irritated tendon. What it can do is work on the muscles around it. Many clients find that easing tension through the inner forearm makes gripping feel more comfortable and the arm feel less tired by the end of the day.
Research on massage for golfer's elbow specifically is limited, so we treat it as a support to rest, sensible changes to how you use the arm and exercise rather than a replacement.
- Soft tissue release along the wrist flexors
- Myofascial release through the forearm and upper arm
- Work on the shoulder and upper back where tension there comes from the same habits
We keep the pressure gentle near the inner elbow, because the ulnar nerve runs just behind it. Symptoms that follow a nerve like that one are a different matter, and our trapped nerve page sets out when a clinical assessment comes first.
This work sits within a sports massage, which is the treatment we use for forearm and upper arm work.
What to expect here
What a treatment looks like here
Your first appointment starts with an assessment. We ask about your work, your sport and when the pain started. We also check how your elbow, wrist, shoulder and neck move, and ask about any tingling in your hand.
The session then focuses on the forearm and upper arm. Afterwards we will talk you through what to change between appointments. If a GP or physiotherapist has given you exercises, we fit our work around them.
How many sessions you need depends on how long you have had the pain and what you do every day. We will give you an honest view after your assessment.
You can find out more about our therapists on our team page.
Important
When it is not massage
Please get medical advice before booking if:
What to do
- Call 999 or go to A&E if the elbow is hot, red and swollen and you feel unwell or have a fever, or if the joint looks deformed after an injury.
- Call NHS 111 for urgent advice if you are unsure how serious something is.
- See your GP if your ring or little fingers tingle or feel weak, or if the pain is not easing.
If anything in your assessment suggests massage is not the right answer, we will tell you plainly and point you to your GP or a physiotherapist.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How is golfers elbow different from tennis elbow?
Golfers elbow affects the inside of the elbow and the muscles that bend the wrist. Tennis elbow affects the outside and the muscles that lift the wrist. Our tennis elbow page covers that side.
Why do you ask about tingling in my fingers?
The ulnar nerve passes just behind the inner elbow. Tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers can mean the nerve is involved, which needs checking by a GP first.
Should I wear an elbow strap?
Some people find a strap or clasp helps for short periods when gripping. Ask your GP or a pharmacist whether one suits you.
Will the massage hurt?
The forearm can feel tender, but you should not be in sharp pain. We keep the pressure at a level you are comfortable with.
You can also see the full list of conditions we help with, and deep tissue massage explains the treatment we use for forearm work. Pain that runs down into the hand is covered on our wrist and forearm pain page.
Areas we cover
Where we treat golfers elbow
Inner elbow pain usually builds up over weeks before people come in for it. These are the areas we cover in detail.
Clients travel to us from all over the surrounding area, from the city and from the towns and villages around it. If you are not sure whether we cover where you are, ring us and ask.
Main areas we cover
Also covered
Skewen, Birchgrove, Clydach, Glais, Trebanos, Rhos, Neath Abbey, Cadoxton, Cimla, Briton Ferry, Gorseinon, Gowerton, Fforestfach, Loughor, Pontardawe, Pontarddulais, Killay, Ammanford, Burry Port.
Ready to book your session?
Choose a time that suits you, or call us and we will find one that works.