This issue leads to outside of left wrist pain from golf

Outside of Left Wrist Pain From Golf

One round of golf puts a lot of strain on a person’s wrists and many other parts of their body. Some golfers in Overland Park, Kansas, might have noticed outside of left wrist pain following a round. There are several issues that could be the source of your pain. However, there’s one issue in particular that is likely causing it: extensor carpi ulnaris tendinitis. 

What is extensor carpi ulnaris tendinitis?

A tendon is a structure that connects a muscle to a bone. The extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon connects the muscle of the same name to the bone at the base of the pinky finger. Golfing involves wrist movements that can inflame or irritate this tendon. Any time a tendon is irritated or inflamed, the condition is called tendinitis. An inflammation or irritation of the ECU tendon is specifically referred to as ECU tendinitis. 

How can golfing lead to ECU tendinitis?

It’s not just the wrist movements of your golf swing that can lead to ECU tendinitis and pain along the outside of the wrist. There are other factors in golfing that can cause this sport-related injury. One example would be poor swinging mechanics that place more strain on the wrists. ECU tendinitis could also be the result of wrist twisting from accidentally hitting the ground during your swing or from not taking time to warm up the wrists before playing.

What can you do to treat ECU tendinitis?

There are several steps you can take to treat the outside of left wrist pain and other symptoms of ECU tendinitis. One important step is to rest your wrist. You can do this by taking a break from golfing for a few days. You might also want to avoid repetitive wrist movements like typing. 

Stretching and strengthening exercises can also be helpful for ECU tendinitis. For assistance with stretching and exercising , you might want to seek help from an experienced physical therapist. 

SSOR in Overland Park has physical therapists that can help treat golfing injuries

Have you been feeling pain on the outside of your left wrist since the last time you played golf? Our physical therapy team at SSOR in Overland Park is here to help you. We offer complimentary screenings that can help diagnose the cause of your pain. Our team can then use this information to build you a personalized treatment plan, which may include beneficial therapy methods such as: 

Don’t wait to start getting our help with your wrist pain. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.