You don’t need to be a golfer to experience golfer’s elbow—a condition that causes pain on the inner part of your elbow. Whether it’s from lifting, typing, gripping, or swinging a racket, medial epicondylalgia can make daily tasks frustrating and painful. But the good news is that you can heal—and physiotherapy can help you get there without needing injections or surgery. What Is Medial Epicondylalgia? Medial epicondylalgia is a type of tendon overuse injury. It affects the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the medial epicondyle, the bony bump on the inside of your elbow. The injury typically involves degeneration of the tendon due to repetitive stress, not inflammation—so rest alone often isn’t enough. Common Symptoms Pain or tenderness on the inside of your elbow Pain that gets worse with gripping, lifting, or wrist flexion Weakness in the forearm Stiffness in the elbow, especially in the morning What Causes It? Repetitive wrist or arm motions (typing, painting, hammering, racquet sports) Improper lifting technique Weak shoulder or core muscles A sudden increase in physical activity How Physiotherapy Helps A physiotherapist can design a treatment plan that targets the root causes of your pain. Evidence-based rehab includes: Eccentric and isometric strengthening of forearm muscles Manual therapy to release tension and improve mobility Stretching to reduce stress on the tendons Posture and movement correction Education on activity modification and gradual return to work or sport What Research Says A randomized controlled trial by Tyler et al. (2014) showed that eccentric wrist flexor exercises significantly reduced pain and improved strength in patients with medial elbow tendinopathy. Seo et al. (2013) found that combining exercise therapy with manual therapy was more effective than exercise alone in improving pain and function in elbow tendinopathies, including medial epicondylalgia. When to See a Physiotherapist Your elbow pain lasts more than 2 weeks You feel weak when gripping or lifting You want to avoid medications or injections You’ve had this pain before and it keeps coming back Bottom Line Medial epicondylalgia is treatable. With the right physiotherapy approach, you can reduce pain, rebuild strength, and return to your daily life confidently and pain-free—whether you’re swinging a club or lifting a cup. References: Tyler, T. F., Thomas, G. C., Nicholas, S. J., & McHugh, M. P. (2014). Addition of isolated wrist extensor eccentric exercise to standard treatment for chronic lateral epicondylosis: A prospective randomized trial. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 19(6), 917–922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2009.05.031 Seo, J. B., Kang, J. H., Lee, J. H., Lee, S. Y., & Kim, H. S. (2013). Effects of exercise therapy and manual therapy on pain and function in patients with medial or lateral epicondylitis: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 25(5), 551–554. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.25.551