How effective is shockwave therapy for golfer's elbow?

Golfer's elbow, also called medial epicondylitis, affects the tendon attachment on the inner side of the elbow. Repeated gripping, throwing, lifting, or wrist bending can keep the area sensitive. Shockwaves deliver mechanical pulses to the painful tendon with the aim of changing the local pain and tissue response.

A meaningful response can be less pain when gripping, carrying, opening a jar, or using a tool. Symptoms may not change immediately after a session, and temporary tenderness is possible. Results are less predictable when the pain actually comes from the neck, a nerve, the elbow joint, or a different tendon.

Before treatment, have the source of inner-elbow pain assessed. Reduce the gripping or lifting load that provokes symptoms without stopping all arm use. Your clinician may introduce wrist, forearm, and shoulder exercises, beginning with tolerable loading and progressing as the tendon handles more work.

Track a practical task rather than only resting pain, such as carrying a bag or making a fist. Tell the treating clinician about blood-thinning medication, nerve symptoms, or a bleeding disorder before a session, because these details can affect suitability.

Seek prompt assessment after a significant injury, or for sudden loss of strength, inability to move the elbow, spreading redness or warmth, fever, persistent numbness, or severe worsening pain. Those findings need evaluation for causes beyond routine tendon irritation.

Is the inner-elbow tendon the true pain source? Which activities should I modify? How should my grip and forearm strength be progressed? What side effects should I report, and when should we review whether the treatment is helping?