The Science of Golfer's Elbow
Medial epicondylitis involves degeneration of the flexor-pronator tendons at the medial elbow. Like tennis elbow, it's degenerative rather than inflammatory, with disorganized collagen and neovascularization.
Contributing Factors
Golfers elbow develops from repetitive gripping activities combined with wrist flexion and forearm rotation. Unlike tennis elbow, this affects the tendons on the inside of your elbow that control wrist flexion and gripping. The classic mechanism involves forceful gripping while your wrist is bent forward (flexed) - think about gripping a golf club during the downswing, using a hammer, or even carrying heavy bags with your wrist bent.
Computer work and manual activities are common causes outside of sports. Prolonged typing with your wrists bent down (rather than in a neutral position), using tools that require sustained gripping with wrist flexion, or carrying heavy objects with your palms facing down all overload these tendons. The position is particularly stressful when you combine gripping with forearm rotation - like turning a wrench or opening tight jar lids.
Golf technique issues are the classic sports-related cause, hence the name. Poor swing mechanics that create excessive wrist action during the downswing, gripping the club too tightly, or hitting the ground repeatedly during practice sessions all overload the flexor tendons. However, I see this condition more often from occupational activities than golf. Activities like carpentry, plumbing, cooking, or any job requiring sustained gripping while the wrist is flexed forward can gradually overload these tendons beyond their repair capacity, leading to the degenerative changes characteristic of golfers elbow.