I Have Elbow Pain and Golfing Makes It Flare Up

Your elbow pain flares up when you golf, often becoming sharp, achy, or tender during your swing as repeated motion stresses the tendons around your elbow.

When golfing makes your elbow pain flare up, you may feel fine before you start and then notice the problem once you begin taking swings. The pain may appear during the backswing, as you make contact with the ball, or shortly afterward, and it can become harder to ignore as you continue playing.

You may also notice that the first few swings are manageable but your elbow becomes increasingly sore as the round continues. Repeated swings give the same area little chance to settle down, so the discomfort may remain noticeable after you finish and return the next time you play.

Your Elbow Starts Hurting As The Swings Add Up

The pain may become more noticeable after several swings rather than the first one.

You might start your round with only a slight twinge, then feel the elbow tighten or ache more as you keep swinging. Repeated gripping and swinging can place ongoing stress on the tendons around the elbow, making the same motion increasingly uncomfortable.

The Flare-Up Lingers After You Finish Golfing

Your elbow may stay sore after the clubs are put away.

You may notice the pain while carrying your clubs, reaching for something, or simply moving your arm after the round. When the elbow remains sore afterward, another round before it has settled can bring the same flare-up back more quickly.

Why Your Elbow Keeps Flaring Up During Golf

Your elbow has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and repeated irritation.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your elbow feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Elbow Feel Better

Your elbow starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does golfing make my elbow pain flare up?

Golfing involves repeated gripping and swinging, which can stress the tendons around your elbow and make existing pain flare up.

Why does my elbow hurt more after playing golf?

Your elbow may hurt more afterward because repeated swings can leave the area sore after continued stress during the round.

Why does my elbow start hurting after several golf swings?

Your elbow may become painful after several swings because the repeated motion continues stressing an area that is already sensitive.

Should I keep golfing if it makes my elbow pain worse?

If golfing consistently makes your elbow pain worse, reducing or stopping the painful activity can give your elbow more time to recover.

Why does my elbow pain come back every time I golf?

Your elbow pain may keep returning because repeated swings continue stressing the same area before it has fully recovered.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.