What does medial elbow pain during the golfer's elbow test suggest?

What does medial elbow pain during the golfer's elbow test suggest?

• A. Flexor tendinopathy
• B. Lateral epicondylitis
• C. Ulnar nerve entrapment
• D. Carpometacarpal joint arthritis

Answer: (A)

The golfer’s elbow test loads the common flexor tendon at the medial epicondyle. Pain reproduced with this maneuver indicates flexor tendinopathy (medial epicondylitis) because the inflamed or degenerating flexor-pronator tendons attach there. This is the pattern you’d expect when the medial elbow structures are irritated by repetitive flexion activity. If the pain were on the lateral side with a different test, it would point to extensor tendinopathy (lateral epicondylitis); if numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers were dominant, ulnar nerve compression would be more likely; and base-of-thumb (carpometacarpal) joint issues would not primarily present as medial elbow pain.

The golfer’s elbow test loads the common flexor tendon at the medial epicondyle. Pain reproduced with this maneuver indicates flexor tendinopathy (medial epicondylitis) because the inflamed or degenerating flexor-pronator tendons attach there. This is the pattern you’d expect when the medial elbow structures are irritated by repetitive flexion activity. If the pain were on the lateral side with a different test, it would point to extensor tendinopathy (lateral epicondylitis); if numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers were dominant, ulnar nerve compression would be more likely; and base-of-thumb (carpometacarpal) joint issues would not primarily present as medial elbow pain.