Download Medial Epicondylitis

Medial Epicondylitis
Medial Epicondylitis is often referred to as “golfer’s elbow” or “baseball
elbow”. Persons with medial epicondylitis often have pain over the
inside of the elbow (medial epicondyle) and have pain with resisted
wrist bending or stretching.
Anatomy: The elbow consists of a junction between two bones: the
humerus, which extends from the shoulder to the elbow; and the ulna,
which meets the humerus at the elbow joint and extends to the wrist.
The term “medial epicondyle refers to the large bony area located on
the inside of the end of the humerus.
Muscles which flex(bend) the wrist originate from the medial
epicondyle and cross both the wrist and elbow joints. These muscles
are the flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, and
the flexor digitorum superficialis muscles. When these muscles
contract, they become shorter, and the tendons of these muscles
become taut. The pronator teres muscle, which turns the palm of the
hand down, also inserts on the medial epicondyle.
Cause: Medial epicondylitis is usually found in people who repetitively
overuse or strain these muscles. Therefore, forceful wrist bending or
pronation such as in pitching a baseball, throwing a javelin, carrying a
heavy suitcase, serving in tennis, gardening, playing a musical
instrument, or performing carpentry activities such as screwing or hammering may cause inflammation and/or
damage of the tendons which attach to the medial epicondyle.
If one continues to stress the muscles, which attach to the medial epicondyle, the tendons may be pulled from
the bone and cause an avulsion fracture. An avulsion fracture occurs when the tendon and a small piece of
bone attached to the tendon is broken away from the medial epicondyle.
Stages: There are two stages of medial epicondylitis:
Acute: During this stage, one may take an anti-inflammatory agent. Resting the wrist and elbow and applying
ice to the inflamed areas is recommended. In physical therapy, electrical stimulation, pulsed ultrasound, and
the application of a splint may be used.
Chronic: During this stage, heat is applied to the area before beginning gentle stretches and isometric
exercises for the wrist flexors and pronators. Ultrasound, phonophoresis, iontophoresis, and soft tissue
massage are used to decrease swelling and pain. Ice is also applied to decrease swelling and pain. In time,
one with medial epicondylitis will begin active and resisted wrist flexion and pronation exercises.
Prevention: To prevent the reoccurrence of medial epicondylitis, one must continue to perform exercises to
increase the strength, power, endurance, and flexibility of the wrist flexors and pronators. Also, it is necessary
to modify activities of daily living to prevent unnecessary stress upon these muscles. Modification of existing
equipment or activities performed with wrist flexors will help prevent future medial epicondylitis discomfort.
Norman
2475 Boardwalk
Norman, OK 73069
PH (405) 447-1991
Newcastle
2340 N.W. 32nd
Newcastle, OK 73065
PH (405) 392-3322
www.TherapyInMotion.net
Purcell
2132 N. Green Ave
Purcell, OK 73080
PH (405) 527-1500