Dry Needling for Golfer's Elbow: Can it relieve your pain?
Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is a tendon irritation on the inner side of the elbow that can make gripping, lifting, and everyday activities painful. This article explains what golfer’s elbow is, why it develops, and how it affects function.
The blog explores how dry needling may help reduce muscle tension, improve movement, calm irritated nerves, and decrease pain associated with golfer’s elbow. It also explains why tendon loading remains an important part of recovery.
Readers will learn what to expect during treatment, when to seek help, and how physical therapy can support long-term healing and return to activity.
Whether you’re trying to get out to the range or simply grip a coffee cup, elbow pain can be incredibly frustrating.
You’ve probably tried ice, braces, or stretching without lasting relief, and stopping golf or avoiding everyday gripping just doesn’t feel like an option.
Dry needling can help reduce elbow pain so you can get back to golfing and living life without constantly being aware of your elbow every time you grip something.
Here’s what we are going to talk about in this blog post:
What is golfer’s elbow?
What is dry needling?
How dry needling can help golfer’s elbow pain
Is dry needling for golfer’s elbow enough on its own?
What to expect during and after dry needling for golfer’s elbow
When to see a physical therapist for golfer’s elbow
What is golfer’s elbow?
Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is an irritation, or tendonitis, of the tendon that attaches to the inner part of the elbow. Though it can occur in golfer’s, you don’t have to be a golfer to experience golfer’s elbow.
Medial epicondylitis is caused by overuse of the tendon and muscles of the forearm that exceeds the tendon’s capacity. Most cases of golfer’s elbow are caused by one or more of the following:
A sudden increase in golf or other gripping activities like hammering, heavy lifting, or lifting children
Long-term overuse from lots of golf, gripping, or lifting children over an extended period of time
Weakness in the shoulder stabilizing muscles
Stiffness or inflammation in the neck, affecting nerves that connect to the elbow
Common symptoms of golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, include:
Sharp pain, usually pinpoint, around the bone on the inner part of the elbow
Pain with gripping, especially heavy items or repetitive gripping
Pain with use of the hand and wrist
Pain radiating down the forearm from the elbow
Weak grip strength
Numbness, tingling, or nerve sensations down the forearm and potentially into the hand
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a treatment that is becoming increasingly popular. It's incredibly effective at releasing deep, chronic tension that's been hanging around for a long time. It also helps your body move and feel better relatively quickly.
During dry needling treatment, a super-thin needle is inserted directly into a muscle. Locally, it helps the muscle release and relax. It also “wakes up” muscles that have been hard to activate on your own, boosts blood flow, reduces swelling, and calms irritated nerves. Think of it as the deepest, most effective deep-tissue massage you'll ever have.
It doesn't stop there either. Dry needling also works on your nervous system in a really positive way, almost resetting how your brain communicates with that part of your body and making that connection clearer and more productive. Think of it as a control + alt + delete for your brain and body that also activates your body’s natural opioid system for reducing pain.
How dry needling can help golfer’s elbow pain
Dry needling can be very effective in treating golfer’s elbow. Remember, golfer’s elbow is an irritation of the tendon that connects muscles in the forearm to the inner elbow bone. When there is tension in the muscle, it increases the pull on the tendon. Over time, the tendon doesn’t like this- this is part of what contributes to golfer’s elbow pain.
When the muscle isn’t holding onto tension, it can also contract more efficiently and more powerfully. Dry needling is a great way to achieve this and allow your grip to feel strong and pain-free.
Remember the nervous system piece. Dry needling doesn't just help the local area move and feel better. It also resets how your brain communicates with your elbow, allowing your nervous system to process and function more optimally.
Is dry needling enough on its own?
Honestly, no. Dry needling can absolutely help golfer’s elbow, however it is a means to an end…not the end itself.
Here’s why.
Golfer’s elbow is a form of tendonitis. In order to heal tendonitis, the tendon needs to be loaded. This means it needs to work.
Now you may be thinking, “Working the tendon got me into this mess…how is it going to also get me out?”
Great question.
Here’s the thing- tendons want to work, but in a particular way. They don’t want to be underloaded, but they don’t want to be overloaded either. It’s usually an overload that causes tendonitis. So the key is to load it in what I call the “Goldilocks range” to make the tendon happy, bring pain levels down, and help it heal.
A great place to start with loading the tendon for golfer’s elbow is with something called an isometric. This means the muscle is contracting but the joint isn’t moving.
To do this, take a stress ball and squeeze it at an intensity in which it feels challenging, but pain levels stay 3/10 or below. Hold this for 45 seconds, rest for 45 seconds, and repeat this five times.
This isometric is what we start our clients with when they come in with golfer’s elbow. Most of the time, we add dry needling as part of the treatment plan to further help with pain management and expedite the recovery process.
What to expect during and after treatment
During a dry needling treatment, your physical therapist will insert small needles into the muscles of the forearm, and sometimes the upper arm, shoulder, or neck depending what he/she finds in the assessment.
When the needle goes into the skin, you won’t feel anything because the needle is so small. When the needle enters the muscle, you will likely feel a tight, crampy sensation. The muscle may even twitch, or do a quick involuntary contraction. This is all very normal and means you’re in the right place!
How many needles are used, length of time leaving the needles in place, and any other needling techniques performed are up to the discretion of the physical therapist based on their experience and your clinical presentation.
After treatment, you’ll be given isometrics and a few other exercises to address mobility or strength needs that arise during your assessment. You’ll likely feel some post-needle soreness, but the original pain should start to improve.
There’s nothing you need to do differently after a dry needling treatment. Just move around and drink plenty of water.
When to see a physical therapist for golfer’s elbow
I urge you not to wait to get your medial epicondylitis treated! Tendonitis, including golfer’s elbow, can tend to be a chronic and stubborn thing to treat. The sooner you address the problem, the sooner it will go away and you can get back to life as usual.
It’s time to see a physical therapist if:
Pain has been present for 2 or more weeks
You’re changing the way you move and grip things throughout the day
You’ve started avoiding using the painful arm for daily activities
Pain is getting worse despite your best efforts
You sick of dealing with it, regardless of how long it’s been going on
Physical therapists are movement experts and specially trained to treat problems like golfer’s elbow! Injections and surgery are NOT the most effective treatments for any type of tendonitis, including golfer’s elbow. The tendon needs to be loaded in a healthy way while also addressing underlying causes of the tendonitis.
Where to find dry needling for golfer’s elbow
Have you tried to self manage your golfer’s elbow and want more individualized support? Or are you interested in trying dry needling for golfer’s elbow?
If you are located in or near Westerville, Ohio we can help you with dry needling and physical therapy to improve your elbow pain!
You can get started right away by learning more about our physical therapy services or getting in contact with us.
We also offer virtual coaching throughout the world to empower you with your health and get to the root of what is holding you back. You can learn more about our virtual coaching program here.
If you have additional questions, we would love to talk with you, hear your story, answer all your questions, and see how we could help.
You can call or text us at (614) 423-9731 or schedule a free discovery call. You can also learn more about Empower Physio and Wellness + our team or check out other services we offer.