Prevention

You can take steps to prevent golfer's elbow:

• Strengthen your forearm muscles. Use light weights or squeeze a tennis ball. Even simple exercises can help your muscles absorb the energy of sudden physical stress.
• Stretch before your activity. Walk or jog for a few minutes to warm up your muscles. Then do gentle stretches before you begin your game.
• Fix your form. Whatever your sport, ask an instructor to check your form to avoid overload on muscles.
• Use the right equipment. If you're using older golfing irons, consider upgrading to lighter graphite clubs. If you play tennis, make sure your racket fits you. A racket with a small grip or a heavy head may increase the risk of elbow problems.
• Lift properly. When lifting anything — including free weights — keep your wrist rigid and stable to reduce the force to your elbow.
• Know when to rest. Try not to overuse your elbow. At the first sign of elbow pain, take a break.