Can you get tendonitis from golf?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 18, 2026
The repetitive motions of golf and a high speed swing can cause overuse of your extensor and flexor wrist tendons especially in your lead arm. DeQuervain's tendonitis is one of the most common wrist injuries in golf.
Can golf give you tendonitis?
Golfers can develop tendinitis, bursitis, and tears in the rotator cuff due to the repetitive motion of the golf swing. Rotator cuff injuries are usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.
How do you treat golfer's tendonitis?
Try the following:
- Rest. Put your golf game or other repetitive activities on hold until the pain is gone. ...
- Ice the affected area. Apply ice packs to your elbow for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, three to four times a day for several days. ...
- Use a brace. ...
- Stretch and strengthen the affected area.
How do you prevent tendonitis in golf?
Learn to relieve golf elbow pain and adopt proactive steps to prevent golf-related injury in the future
- ROLL & STRETCH. The forearm muscles, just like the muscles of your thighs (quads and hamstrings), need to have the ability to elongate like rubber bands. ...
- STRENGTHEN. ...
- INTEGRATE. ...
- SUPPORT BRACES. ...
- WARM UP.
Can playing golf cause shoulder tendonitis?
Shoulder tendonitis or impingement can be a common occurrence with golfers. Tendonitis is usually caused by an imbalance of posturing or shoulder stabilizers within the shoulder. Golf can be a facilitator of poor posturing that can potentially lead to tendonitis.
21 related questions foundCan golf injure rotator cuff?
The repetitive, intense stress of golf activity can damage the associated muscles and tendons, causing either a partial tear or a complete severing of the rotator cuff from the bone.
Why do my shoulders hurt after golfing?
For all golfers, the act of swinging can place a large amount of stress on the shoulder's surrounding muscles, connective tissue, and tendons. This stress on the shoulder is partially due to the limited pelvic rotation that takes place during the swing.
Why am I so sore after playing golf?
The twisting and rotating that goes on during your golf swing can put a lot of stress on your back and for that reason, a little soreness now and then is very normal.
What is the most common injury in golf?
8 of the Most Common Golf Injuries
- Golf Back Injuries or Pain. ...
- Rotator Cuff Injury. ...
- Golfer's Elbow. ...
- Golf Wrist Injury Like Tendonitis. ...
- Knee Pain or Injury. ...
- Foot and Ankle Injuries. ...
- Golf Hip Injury. ...
- Sunburn.
How is golfers elbow diagnosed?
The diagnosis of medial epicondylitis usually can be made based on a physical examination. The doctor may rest the arm on a table, palm side up, and ask the person to raise the hand by bending the wrist against resistance. If a person has medial epicondylitis, pain usually is felt in the inner aspect of the elbow.
Can push ups cause golfer's elbow?
However, before hitting the gym, you may want to take these exercises or workouts out of your regular routine: Chin-ups, pushups and bench presses: All of these movements put a strain on your elbow's flexors, which can lead to further irritation of the lateral tendons of your elbow.
Is golfer's elbow serious?
Left untreated, golfer's elbow could cause permanent damage like limiting your elbow's range of motion, causing chronic pain and weakening your grip. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have persistent elbow pain.
How long tendonitis lasts?
The pain of tendinitis can be significant and worsens if damage progresses because of continued use of the joint. Most damage heals in about two to four weeks, but chronic tendinitis can take more than six weeks, often because the sufferer doesn't give the tendon time to heal.
Is golfing hard on your body?
Although golf is a low-impact sport, it's associated with several injuries. Many golfing-related injuries are a result of poor mechanics or overuse. The most commonly injured area is the lower back. Other injured areas can include the elbow, wrist and hand, and shoulder.
Do golfers get trigger finger?
Trigger finger injury is one of the most common injuries that golf players experience. It's a condition caused when the flexor tendon sheath that the tendons in your fingers run through is inflamed.
Do pro golfers get sore?
It is estimated that up to 35 percent of amateur golfers endure lower back injuries. And in our experience working with tour players, the prevalence is even higher in the professional ranks! Back pain can affect our ball striking and short game, diminish our enjoyment of the game, or even stop us playing altogether.
What injuries does golf cause?
The most common golf injuries are: back pain; elbow tendinitis; rotator cuff or shoulder pain; knee pain and wrist injuries. They are generally caused by overuse of the muscles and repeated movements or occasionally by trauma.
Is playing golf good for your health?
Playing golf is good for your heart
So, golf exercises your heart and keeps your heart rate up. This will naturally lower your risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular issues, as well as potentially lowering your levels of 'bad' cholesterol. Regularly playing golf may even lead to an increase in life expectancy.
Can golf give you hemorrhoids?
Certain lifestyle factors and activities can contribute to the development of hemorrhoids or make them worse, says Cleator. "Anything that increases intra-abdominal pressure: it could be obesity, it could be pregnancy, it could be weightlifting, it could be riding a bicycle, it could be playing golf."
How do I become less sore after golf?
Stretch Your Body Beforehand
Stretching can prevent injury while playing golf, but also helps reduce the recovery time after you play. Arrive before your tee time a little earlier. Head to the driving range and get some basic stretches. Make sure to stretch your legs, arms, and chest.
How do you recover from golf soreness?
1 way to prevent or relieve muscle soreness is to stretch. Regardless of fitness experience, it's essential to warm up and cool the body down around workouts and activity. Even if it's just a quick range session, take 10 minutes minimum for a head-to-toe stretch.
Why do my arms hurt after golf?
Golfer's elbow is a condition that causes pain where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of your elbow. The pain might spread into your forearm and wrist. Golfer's elbow is similar to tennis elbow, which occurs on the outside of the elbow. It's not limited to golfers.
Can golf cause shoulder problems?
In regards to shoulder injuries, the lead shoulder, or the left shoulder in the right-handed golfer, is particularly vulnerable to injury. Common shoulder problems affecting golfers include rotator cuff tears, long head of the biceps tendon injuries, shoulder impingement, osteoarthritis, and shoulder joint instability.
Is golf hard on your shoulders?
Shoulder pain is unfortunately common for golfers of all levels, and is often related to overuse of the rotator cuff muscles. These muscles, and the attached tendons, cover the ball of the humerus within the shoulder socket, stabilizing the joint and facilitating its range of motion.
Can golf cause pain between shoulder blades?
Lower back pain is the most common, but don't discount the discomfort of that shooting, stabbing pain between your shoulder blades, either. To prevent back issues, practice correct form and regularly exercise the muscles of your back (focusing specifically on trapezoid and pectoral muscles).