Is Shockwave Therapy Right for Your Golfer's Elbow?
- Just Healthy
- 7 days ago
- 8 min read
If traditional treatments have failed, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) stands out among effective treatment options for Golfer's Elbow, offering a proven, non-invasive path toward a 70–90% success rate in resolving long-term pain.
Key Benefits
Shockwave Therapy works when rest fails. Clinical studies show a 70% to 90% success rate for patients with chronic elbow pain who didn't get better with standard physical therapy.
It restarts your body's natural healing process. Instead of masking pain like pills or injections, high-energy sound waves force dormant cells to repair the injury permanently.
It costs less than the alternatives. While you pay upfront, Shockwave is cheaper than months of lost wages, repeated physical therapy copays, or the long recovery time of surgery.
The Frustration of Golfer's Elbow
Despite the name, nearly 90% of people suffering from Golfer's Elbow have never swung a club.
Medically known as elbow medial epicondylitis, this condition typically caused by repetitive stress or overuse strikes between the ages of 40 and 60, affecting carpenters and desk workers just as often as athletes.
It usually starts as a dull ache but quickly evolves into a burning inner-elbow pain that ruins your grip strength and wrist stability.
You will often notice significant tenderness directly over the bony bump on the inside of your elbow. Suddenly, simple tasks like turning a doorknob or lifting a coffee cup become agonizing.
If you have avoided your daily activity for weeks with no improvement, you aren't alone. The Golfer's Elbow structures have poor natural blood supply, meaning they often lack the nutrients needed to repair themselves.
When ice and braces fail, ESWT offers a non-invasive treatment solution. It isn't a drug or surgery; it is a high-energy acoustic treatment designed to wake up dormant repair cells.
By stimulating new blood flow and using acoustic waves to stimulate healing, ESWT hits restart on the recovery process, allowing your body to finally fix the injury.
Understanding the Mechanics: Why Your Elbow Hurts
To treat the problem, you must understand the anatomy. The pain stems from the bony prominence on the inside of the elbow, known as the medial epicondyle. This is the anchor point for the forearm muscles responsible for flexing your wrist and fingers.
When these muscles are overworked, they pull at the anchor, causing pain in your elbow.
This condition is a classic result of repetitive strain. It doesn't matter if you lead a highly active lifestyle or are a weekend warrior hitting the gym occasionally; once the tendon is damaged, every movement of the affected arm aggravates the injury.
Unlike Tennis Elbow, which affects the outer part or side of the elbow, Golfer’s Elbow stays on the inner side. This is where shockwave therapy golfers elbow protocols shine.
Your therapist uses a specific handheld device to deliver pulses deep into this specific anchor point, promoting healing exactly where the tendon attaches to the bone.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
This cutting-edge treatment uses high-energy acoustic (sound) waves. It is the same technology used to break up kidney stones, but adapted specifically for soft tissue injuries.
The device delivers rapid mechanical pulses through the skin directly into the affected area.
Beyond Golfer's Elbow, doctors frequently use this same technology for other treatments, successfully resolving common conditions like tennis elbow lateral epicondylitis, Plantar Fasciitis, Sciatica, Knee Pain, Heel Spurs and Peyronie Disease.
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Golfer's Elbow
The treatment works by triggering three distinct biological responses to overcome the tendon's poor repair ability. These key benefits activate the body's natural healing response through the following
Kickstarting Repair (Microtrauma): The waves cause controlled, microscopic damage to the tissue in the affected area. While this sounds counterintuitive, triggering a brief, healthy inflammatory response is the key to restarting the healing process and helping the body finally reduce inflammation that has become chronic and painful.
New Blood Supply (Neovascularization): The pulses stimulate the formation of new blood vessels. This creates fresh supply lines and improves blood circulation, delivering the oxygen and nutrients that the starved tendon desperately needs to rebuild.
Immediate Pain Relief (Analgesia): Finally, the intense pulses overstimulate nerve endings, reducing their sensitivity. This interrupts pain signals and the overall pain cycle, often providing immediate relief after the session.
Who is the Ideal Candidate?
Shockwave is rarely the first line of defense. It is a potent solution reserved for stubborn cases where the body has stopped trying to heal itself.
This intervention is specifically designed to target damaged fibers that have failed to recover through traditional conservative care or rest.
You are an ideal candidate if:
You have suffered from inner elbow pain for 3 months or longer (chronic).
You have tried conservative treatments, such as reducing daily activity, ice, bracing, and physical therapy, without success.
You want to avoid more invasive options like surgery or repeated injections.
Who Should Avoid It?
While safe for most, ESWT triggers potent biological changes that are not suitable for everyone. Your provider will likely decline the procedure if you:
Are pregnant.
Have a blood clotting disorder or take blood-thinning medication (e.g., Warfarin or Coumadin). The therapy stimulates blood flow and can cause bruising or bleeding in these cases.
Have had a steroid injection recently. This is a critical safety rule. If you have had a cortisone injection in your elbow within the last 12 weeks, you must wait. Steroids weaken tissue, and applying high-energy waves too soon can increase the risk of tissue rupture.
What to Expect from Shockwave Therapy for Golfer’s Elbow?
The actual delivery of shockwaves is fast, typically taking just 10 to 20 minutes. Including setup, you are usually in and out of the clinic in under half an hour.
Standard course involves 3 to 5 visits, spaced one week apart. This specific timing allows the tissue to recover and build upon the recovery response triggered by each of your shockwave therapy sessions to ensure optimal results for long-term healing.
What Does It Feel Like?
Patients describe the sensation as a mild discomfort. It feels like a rapid, intense tapping or pulsing against the damaged tissue.
However, you are in control; the therapist can instantly adjust the intensity if the sensation becomes too sharp. Because there is no anesthesia or sedation, there is zero downtime. You can drive yourself home and return to work immediately.
Is Shockwave Worth the Investment?
When comparing treatments, it is easy to look at just the upfront price tag. However, the true cost of an injury includes your time, your pain levels, and how long it takes to get back to normal life.
While insurance often covers slower or temporary fixes, Shockwave Therapy is an investment in your body's natural healing processes to create a faster, permanent solution.
When you look at the hidden costs of other options, like months of lost work or the risk of the pain coming back, Shockwave often emerges as the smartest financial choice.
Cost vs. Value Comparison
Treatment | Financial Cost | The Hidden Cost | The Verdict |
Shockwave Therapy | $$ ($450–$900 Total) Usually out-of-pocket | None. Zero downtime. Faster. recovery. You keep working and living your life while you heal. | Best Value. It fixes the root cause quickly and alleviates pain, saving you time and preventing future medical bills. |
Cortisone Injection | $ (Small Copay) Covered by insurance | High Risk. It only masks pain temporarily and can actually weaken the tendon, leading to more injuries later. | False Economy. It looks cheap now but often leads to recurring pain and higher costs down the road. |
Physical Therapy | $$$ (Months of Copays) Covered by insurance | Time. Requires 2–3 visits a week for months. The cost of gas and missed work hours adds up fast. | Slow & Steady. Good for rehab, but often takes months to achieve what Shockwave does in weeks. |
Surgery | ($3,000+) Deductibles apply | Recovery. Requires weeks off work, painful rehab, and the risks of anesthesia/infection. | Last Resort. Expensive and painful. Should only be considered if Shockwave fails. |
You can spend months paying small copays for treatments that work slowly, or you can invest in Shockwave treatments to fix the problem at its source in just 3 to 5 weeks. For many patients, getting back to a pain-free life sooner is priceless.
Proven Results for Long-Term Elbow Recovery
If you have avoided repetitive arm movements and physical therapy hasn't completely solved your Golfer's Elbow pain, there is good news.
ESWT has a 70% to 90% success rate because it does more than just mask pain like a pill. It actually jumpstarts the natural recovery process. While you might get some immediate relief, the deep repair happens over several weeks.
This is because your system works to increase collagen production, slowly replacing weakened fibers with the dense, resilient tissue required for a strong grip.
You may feel a little sore for a day or two after treatment, but don't worry. This is actually a positive sign that the tissue is beginning to repair. Most patients feel stronger within the first month, with the best results appearing 6 to 12 weeks later.
Wrapping it Up: Pain Relief for Your Elbow
Living with limited grip strength and daily pain is exhausting, but you have options beyond pills and waiting.
One of the main benefits of Shockwave for Golfer’s Elbow and tennis elbow is that it offers a proven, non-invasive procedure for long-term recovery by triggering a fresh wave of inflammation to help the injured area fix itself naturally.
In the field of sports medicine, ESWT has become a go-to solution for chronic cases that no longer respond to traditional downtime.
It is specifically designed to break down internal scar tissue that often prevents a full recovery, allowing the connective tissue to regain its original flexibility and strength.
These benefits of Shockwave therapy ensure that you are treating the source of the injury rather than just the symptoms.Now that you understand how the process works and what to expect, you can make an informed decision.
If your current treatment plan has stalled, ask your healthcare provider if adding a personalized treatment plan for ESWT could help you get back to full strength.
FAQ
Does the treatment hurt?
Most patients find it uncomfortable but tolerable. It feels like a rapid, intense tapping against the elbow. The good news is that the treatment only lasts about 10 to 20 minutes, and your therapist can adjust the intensity level at any time to keep it manageable for you.
How soon will I see results?
Many patients might feel some immediate pain relief right after the session because the treatment numbs the nerves. However, true tissue repair takes time. Most people notice better grip strength within the first month, with the most significant, permanent recovery happening 6 to 12 weeks after the final session.
Is there any downtime after a session?
No. Because there is no anesthesia or sedation, you can drive yourself home and return to work immediately after your Shockwave Therapy sessions. You may feel a little soreness for 24 hours (a sign the recovery has started), but you do not need any downtime.
Why can’t I get Shockwave Therapy if I just had a steroid injection?
This is a critical safety rule. Steroid (cortisone) injections weaken the tendon tissue for a short time. If you apply high-energy shockwaves to that weakened tissue, there is a risk of rupturing the tendon. You must wait at least 12 weeks after an injection before starting ESWT.
Will my insurance cover it?
In most cases, insurance plans still classify Shockwave Therapy for golfer's elbow as elective, meaning you will likely pay out-of-pocket. However, because the course of treatment is short (usually 3 to 5 sessions) and fixes the root cause, many patients find it more cost-effective than months of physical therapy copays.
Does this work for tennis elbow?
Yes. Since both conditions involve damaged tendons from overuse, Tennis Elbow (outer elbow) responds just as well to the exact same shockwave technology and protocols.
External Links
Mayo Clinic: Golfer’s Elbow Overview A comprehensive guide to the symptoms, causes, and standard prevention methods for medial epicondylitis.
OrthoInfo (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) Detailed medical breakdowns of elbow tendonitis, written specifically for patients by orthopedic surgeons.
PubMed: Clinical Studies on Shockwave Therapy Access the National Institutes of Health (NIH) database to read the raw scientific studies and success rates for Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT).
International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST) Learn more about the history, technology, and approved uses of shockwave therapy.
Just Healthy Official Site: Use an official directory to find a certified provider near you and schedule your consultation today.
