eMedicine Specialties > Sports Medicine > Upper Limb

Medial Epicondylitis: Follow-up

Author: Craig C Young, MD, Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Community and Family Medicine, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Medical College of Wisconsin
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 22, 2008

Follow-up

Return to Play

Athletes with medial epicondylitis may return to activities, as limited by their symptoms. Because many athletes tend to ignore pain during activity, the physician should create a strict activity regimen. In general, athletes should start with noncompetitive activities such as rallying or practice.

Complications

Rarely, chronic medial epicondylitis may be related to an increased risk of muscle rupture.1

Prevention

The most important preventive measure for medial epicondylitis is proper technique and equipment usage. Athletes should warm up adequately with a series of slowly increasing activities before sports competition. Athletes should stretch to maintain flexibility after finishing their sporting activity.

Prognosis

The duration of the patient's symptoms is related to the length of time before the athlete receives treatment. Those athletes who delay treatment tend to have a slower recovery course.1

Education

Educate athletes about the importance of forearm strengthening and stretching, appropriate training volume and intensity, proper technique, and equipment selection to decrease the risk of future injury.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • In cases of medial epicondylitis that do not respond to appropriate treatment, obtain a plain radiograph to ensure that a tumor or fracture was not missed.
 


More on Medial Epicondylitis

Overview: Medial Epicondylitis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Medial Epicondylitis
Treatment & Medication: Medial Epicondylitis
Follow-up: Medial Epicondylitis
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

golfer's elbow, little leaguer's elbow, overuse tendinopathy

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Craig C Young, MD, Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Community and Family Medicine, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Medical College of Wisconsin
Craig C Young, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa, and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Anthony J Saglimbeni, MD, Staff Physician, Family Practice Residency, Medical Director, Center for Sports Medicine, O'Connor Hospital; Private Practice
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Jon B Whitehurst, MD, Clinical Instructor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Partner and Executive Board Member, Rockford Orthopedic Associates; Orthopedic Chairman, Rockford Memorial Hospital
Jon B Whitehurst, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Sherwin SW Ho, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago
Sherwin SW Ho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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