Elbow pain has a way of hijacking even the most relaxed golf swing. Golfer’s elbow, the shorthand for medial epicondylalgia, presents as a sharp or aching pain on the inside of the elbow and often rides along with stiffness in the forearm and wrist. What surprises many players is how often the shoulder, especially its rotation mechanics, sits upstream of the problem. If the shoulder can’t smoothly rotate, the forearm compensates, the grip fights for control, and the tendons at the elbow absorb more load than they should. Thoughtful massage, whether as part of sports massage therapy or a broader rehab plan, can settle the irritated tissues at the elbow and restore the shoulder’s contribution to the swing.
I’ve worked with golfers from beginners to scratch players, as well as tennis, baseball, and manual-labor clients with the same pattern, and the story repeats: ease the local tendon irritation, reintroduce load gradually, and give the shoulder back its rotational range. The specifics matter. The wrong technique too early can set you back. The right sequence, dose, and timing make all the difference.
Golfer’s elbow involves the common flexor tendon where it attaches to the inside of the elbow. The muscles in this group flex the wrist and fingers and help with pronation of the forearm. Repetitive gripping, forceful wrist flexion, or snapping motions irritate the tendon. It’s similar in spirit to tennis elbow, but on the medial side and with a different muscle set.
The pain pattern typically shows up when you pick up a full kettle, carry a suitcase, or hit a bucket of balls after a layoff. Early on, it might just be a nagging ache after practice. Leave it alone and it will start greeting you with pain during simple tasks like turning a doorknob or typing. The tissue state changes over time: acutely irritated tissue behaves hot and reactive, while a long-standing issue gets stiff and thickened, more about load tolerance than inflammation.
This is where massage therapy plays two roles. It can dampen the irritation so you can move again, and it can help the involved muscles and fascia slide, letting the tendon do its job without friction from neighboring tissues. Neither role replaces progressive loading, but both make loading possible sooner and with less pain.
Watch a swing in slow motion. The trunk coils, the scapula glides, and the humerus rotates. When that rotation, particularly external rotation on the trail shoulder or internal rotation on the lead shoulder, is limited, the forearms twist more to make up the difference. More forearm pronation and supination under speed means more tugging at the elbow tendons, especially on off-center hits or in the rough where the club grabs the grass. If you already have a tender medial epicondyle, those extra degrees of forearm work tip the balance.
I’ve assessed players who couldn’t clear their trail shoulder much past 50 degrees of external rotation without the scapula hiking. They tended to overpronate the lead forearm through impact, then complained of elbow pain after longer irons or fairway woods. Improve the shoulder rotation to 70 or 80 degrees with better scapular mechanics, and the elbow quieted down within weeks. The swing stays a whole-body expression, but freeing the shoulder reassigns torque away from the smaller elbow tendon.
A sports massage therapist starts with a simple screen. The goal is to see what hurts, what’s tight, and what’s weak under light load, then decide where massage helps and where strength or technique changes do the heavy lifting.
I look at palpation tenderness along the medial epicondyle and two or three centimeters distal into the common flexor tendon. A pinch-and-roll over the tendon tells you how reactive it restorativemassages.com massage is. Then I test resisted wrist flexion and pronation, because those motions often light up symptoms. Grip testing with a dynamometer, even a simple squeeze meter, gives a baseline. On the shoulder, I measure active and passive external and internal rotation with the arm at 90 degrees of abduction, and I watch the scapula move during shoulder flexion and abduction.
A few minutes with a client’s club provides context. I check grip pressure, wrist position at the top, and how the lead elbow tracks through impact. I’m not a swing coach, but knowing what the client asks of their body helps me aim the session. A player who death-grips the handle or cups the lead wrist tends to load the flexor-pronator mass heavily. If the shoulder is stiff and the grip is white-knuckled, the elbow is carrying both sins.
When the elbow is acutely angry, less is more. Sinking elbows into a tendon that already hurts is a recipe for a bad next day. I prefer three to five short passes of specific, light-to-moderate pressure along the flexor-pronator mass, starting a bit away from the most painful spot and only feathering into the attachment if tolerated. Use enough lotion to glide without dragging the skin. Thirty to sixty seconds, then move on. You can repeat for two or three rounds with breaks. Clients often report a mild warmth and a sense of space rather than deep soreness.
A gentle pin-and-stretch works well early. Stabilize the muscle belly of flexor carpi radialis or pronator teres with relaxed fingers, then have the client slowly extend the wrist or supinate the forearm. The client controls the motion and the range, which keeps the tendon from getting yanked. Two to three repetitions are plenty. Top off with fluid strokes from wrist toward elbow to move out residual congestion.
If the tendon is chronically stiff, I still avoid aggressive cross-fiber friction on the actual enthesis. Instead, I spend more time on the surrounding tissues: the fascia between pronator teres and brachioradialis, the flexor digitorum superficialis bellies that tend to cling together, and the deep layer near the ulna where flexor carpi ulnaris gets ropey. When those layers slide, the tendon sees less extraneous shear during gripping.
Self-massage between sessions helps. I teach clients to use a small ball on a tabletop, rolling the inner forearm slowly for two to three minutes, staying off the most tender point. If any spot causes sharp pain, back off a centimeter and work the borders. The rule is simple: the area should feel looser afterward, not irritated.
The shoulder complex doesn’t respond well to one-note strategies. A stiff posterior capsule, tight lat, or guarded pec minor can all choke rotation, and massaging one structure rarely solves it. A sequence works better: softening what’s stiff, waking what’s asleep, then moving through the newly available range.
I often start with the pec minor and upper ribs. Many golfers present with rounded shoulders from desk work more than from golf. Gentle work along the pec minor line, from ribs toward coracoid, plus broad strokes over the intercostals, frees up scapular tilt. Then I move to the lat and teres major, which often limit external rotation. Side-lying positions allow slow, sinking pressure along the lat while the client breathes into the stretch. The posterior cuff gets careful, small-pressure work around infraspinatus and teres minor. Not trigger point assault, just persuasive contact until the tissue gives a little.
Immediately after soft tissue work, I have the client do slow shoulder external rotation with the elbow at the side, or wall slides with a light band encouraging scapular upward rotation. The timing matters. Massage opens a window, and movement keeps it open. Two sets of eight or ten controlled reps, pain-free, set the tone for later strengthening.
Sports massage leans into intention. The pressure may be similar to a firm Swedish session at times, but the goals differ. In a sports massage therapy plan for golfer’s elbow, we target involved tissues, respect irritability, and line up the session with the client’s training schedule.
For example, I avoid deep work on the elbow tendon within 24 hours of a practice round or lesson. If they are in a heavy range session week, we bias shoulder and thoracic mobility and keep the elbow treatment gentle. On off days, we can spend more time on the forearm, then prescribe isometric or light eccentric wrist work afterward. The therapist becomes part of the training rhythm, not a separate activity.
General relaxation massage has value, especially for clients who guard when stressed. Less guarding equals less co-contraction around the elbow and shoulder. But when pain hangs around, targeted sports massage provides the specificity that turns the corner.
Most mild to moderate cases settle over six to twelve weeks if you combine load management, massage, and strengthening. Acute flares calm down faster, often within two to three weeks, but lingering sensitivity to heavy gripping can last. Chronic cases that have simmered for a year might take three to six months to fully normalize, and sometimes they evolve into management rather than cure, where the client plays comfortably, but needs periodic tune-ups.
Progress is tangible. Squeeze strength climbs by 10 to 30 percent from the first baseline within a month. Forearm tissue feels more supple on palpation. The client reports less morning stiffness and less ache after a bucket of balls. Shoulder external rotation gains two to five degrees over a couple of weeks, then another five to ten as the scapula learns to glide. Pain during resisted wrist flexion fades from sharp to dull, then to nothing.
Setbacks happen. Traveling with no access to your routine, a cold day on the course, or an enthusiastic return to drivers after feeling good can light the elbow up again. A brief return to gentle massage, isometrics, and reduced volume generally resets the clock without losing all gains.
Massage sets the stage, but the tendon remodels with load. The recipe is simple and unglamorous: isometrics for calming, eccentrics for capacity, concentric-eccentric for function.
I like starting with isometric wrist flexion holds using a light dumbbell or resistance band. The client grips the handle at neutral wrist, builds tension to a 3 out of 10 effort, then holds for 30 to 45 seconds. Five holds with short breaks often reduce pain sensitivity. Performed after a massage session, these holds feel easier and reinforce the calm.
Eccentrics come next. Rest the forearm on a bench, palm up, and slowly lower the wrist from flexed to neutral over three to five seconds with a small weight, then assist back to the start with the other hand. Two sets of eight to ten reps at a weight that challenges but does not provoke sharp pain is the sweet spot. Do this three times a week for several weeks. Most clients report the tendon feels “used, not abused.”
When symptoms allow, add pronation-supination control with a hammer or club, holding the shaft near the head to increase the moment arm. Slow twists through a comfortable arc teach the forearm to handle rotational load without yanking on the tendon.
Pairing this work with massage therapy speeds the transition. The therapist can modulate tissue tone so the client can perform the exercises with better form and less irritation.
After shoulder soft tissue work, I teach two or three simple drills. Supine external rotation with a towel under the elbow builds range with the scapula supported. Sidelying external rotation with a light dumbbell wakes the posterior cuff without heavy compensation. Wall slides with a band pull-apart encourage upward rotation and posterior tilt. The key is to stay below pain, move slowly, and feel the shoulder blade glide without the upper trap taking over.
For clients who struggle with internal rotation on the lead shoulder, a sleeper stretch can help if done gently and with the scapula stabilized. Many push too hard and irritate the posterior capsule. I prefer a modified version with the trunk slightly rolled forward, one hand guiding the forearm down until a light stretch appears, then holding for 20 to 30 seconds with calm breathing. Massage to the posterior cuff before this stretch improves comfort.
Direct swing coaching belongs to a teaching pro, but small technical cues can dramatically change elbow load. A lighter grip pressure, something like a 4 or 5 out of 10, disperses force across the hand rather than strangling the handle. Keeping the lead wrist closer to neutral at the top avoids a snappy flexion moment through impact. Shortening the backswing while symptoms calm reduces the need for last-ditch forearm torque.
Equipment matters as well. Oversize grips can reduce finger flexor demand for some players, while softer shafts can smooth load transfer. Lie angle that suits your posture keeps the clubface from forcing compensations. A massage therapist can’t prescribe clubs, but can flag when a client’s gear seems to fight their body.
Not every elbow responds to manual care. If the client has swelling, warmth, and a recent trauma, or if there is ulnar nerve irritation with numbness into the ring and little finger, the plan changes. Nerve symptoms call for careful assessment and possibly medical imaging. A locked, painful elbow joint, sudden weakness, or a night pain pattern that does not change with position deserves a medical referral.
Even in standard cases, if a client sees no change after three to four focused sessions combined with home exercises, I look for missing pieces. Sometimes it is a neck or thoracic issue referring pain to the elbow. Sometimes diabetes or a thyroid problem affects tendon behavior. Coordinating with a physical therapist or sports medicine physician keeps everyone honest and the client covered.
Two or three sessions in the first month, then taper based on response. Sessions run 45 to 60 minutes, not because more time is always better, but because elbow work does not need an hour, and the shoulder and upper back deserve a chunk. I plan the session content around the client’s schedule. If they have a lesson tomorrow, I restore range gently today. If they have two rest days, I can be a little more specific with the forearm and follow with isometrics.
Here is a simple weekly rhythm that often works well for amateurs who practice two to three times per week:
Clients develop a sense for the difference between productive soreness and warning pain. Good soreness feels diffuse, fades within a day, and comes with looser motion. Warning pain is sharp, local, lingers into the next morning, and often makes gripping feel weaker. During massage, the right intensity feels like pressure that invites breath, not a reflex to pull away.
Therapists should watch for protective guarding. The forearm may harden under your hands or the shoulder may hike during shoulder work. Rather than push through, back off, reposition, and cue slow inhalations. The nervous system governs tone and pain as much as tissue texture does.
Between appointments, the simplest rituals pay off. Warm the forearm before practice with a heating pad for five to eight minutes, then do gentle wrist circles and two sets of easy isometric holds. After practice, a cool pack for ten minutes can settle reactive tendons. Sleep with the arm relaxed at your side on a pillow rather than tucked under your head. Avoid long stretches of typing with the wrist cocked, a sneaky aggravator for many.
I advise clients to keep a tiny log: date, practice volume, pain rating out of ten during practice and the morning after, and any changes in equipment or exercises. Patterns emerge within two weeks. You learn how many balls you can hit comfortably, and you inch that number up, not down.
Some elbows refuse to quiet down with exercise alone, especially in clients who clamp down through the neck and traps or who have dense, adhesive tissue in the forearm. Manual work can change how the brain perceives threat in that area. I’ve seen clients who could not tolerate a 2 kilogram eccentric wrist curl suddenly manage 4 kilograms after a single session, not because the tendon remodeled in an hour, but because the protective tone dropped and movement normalized. That window is precious. Use it to practice perfect reps at tolerable loads, then consolidate over weeks.
The shoulder, too, often needs repeated persuasion. External rotation gains tend to plateau unless the posterior cuff and lat stay cooperative. Regular sessions that blend soft tissue work and motor control drills keep the rotation gains alive and prevent regressions during busy weeks.
Massage therapy is not a magic fix. It adds value by making other pieces easier: it relieves pain enough to let you load the tendon, it frees shoulder motion enough to distribute torque, and it calms the system so you stop guarding. It does not replace smart training or rest. The trade-offs are real. Too little manual input and the client never gets out of the pain-protection loop. Too much, too deep, and you stir up the tendon.
Some clients need imaging when progress stalls, to rule out partial tears or nerve entrapment. A few need injections as part of a broader plan. Even then, massage can support recovery by facilitating gentle movement while the tissue calms.
Look for a massage therapist who is comfortable discussing load, exercise progression, and scheduling around practice. Ask if they have experience with golfer’s elbow or similar tendon issues. A good therapist explains what they are doing and why, changes course if the tissue reacts poorly, and teaches you self-care and exercises that match your stage.
Expect the first session to reduce pain and stiffness modestly, not to erase the problem. Expect homework. Expect adjustments. Good care feels collaborative.
Kinesiology taping can sometimes offload the flexor tendon enough to let you practice, especially during a hectic tournament week. Forearm straps work for some, not all. They change the line of pull and reduce strain at the tendon temporarily. Use them as a bridge, not a crutch. Dry needling has its place for stubborn trigger points in the forearm or posterior cuff, but it should land in a plan that still includes strengthening and mobility.
Grip trainers can be helpful if used wisely. Train grip endurance, not just peak crush, and keep the wrist neutral during sets. Heavy farmer’s carries, once pain allows, teach the whole chain to share load.
When golfer’s elbow and shoulder rotation deficits show up together, the path out is clear if you respect sequence. Calm the elbow with precise, conservative massage and isometrics. Restore shoulder rotation with soft tissue work that targets the lat, posterior cuff, and pec minor, then immediately move through that new range with controlled drills. Progress loading gradually, guided by a simple log and the feel of your tissues. Align practice volume, equipment, and technique with your current capacity.
Done well, sports massage becomes the lever that lets you train the way you want. Sessions do not need to be heroic. They need to be timely, accurate, and integrated with what happens on the range. The payoff is not only a quieter elbow, but a freer shoulder, a smoother swing, and the confidence to play without that nagging tug on every follow-through.
Business Name: Restorative Massages & Wellness
Address: 714 Washington St, Norwood, MA 02062
Phone: (781) 349-6608
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Restorative Massages & Wellness is a health and beauty business.
Restorative Massages & Wellness is a massage therapy practice.
Restorative Massages & Wellness is located in Norwood, Massachusetts.
Restorative Massages & Wellness is based in the United States.
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Restorative Massages & Wellness has an address at 714 Washington St, Norwood, MA 02062.
Restorative Massages & Wellness has phone number (781) 349-6608.
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Restorative Massages & Wellness is an AMTA member practice.
Restorative Massages & Wellness employs a licensed and insured massage therapist.
Restorative Massages & Wellness is led by a therapist with over 25 years of medical field experience.
Restorative Massages & Wellness in Norwood, MA offers a comprehensive range of services including deep tissue massage, sports massage, Swedish massage, hot stone massage, myofascial release, and stretching therapy. The wellness center also provides skincare and facial services through the Aveda Tulasara line, waxing, and curated spa day packages. Whether you are recovering from an injury, managing chronic tension, or simply looking to relax, the team at Restorative Massages & Wellness may have a treatment to meet your needs.
Restorative Massages & Wellness in Norwood takes a clinical, medically informed approach to massage therapy. The primary therapist brings over 25 years of experience in the medical field and tailors each session to the individual client's needs, goals, and physical condition. The practice also integrates targeted stretching techniques that may support faster pain relief and longer-lasting results. As an AMTA member, Restorative Massages & Wellness is committed to professional standards and continuing education.
Yes, Restorative Massages & Wellness in Norwood, MA offers a full wellness suite that goes beyond massage therapy. The center provides professional skincare and facials using the Aveda Tulasara product line, waxing services, and customizable spa day packages for those looking for a complete self-care experience. This combination of therapeutic massage and beauty services may make Restorative Massages & Wellness a convenient one-stop wellness destination for clients in the Norwood area.
Clients who visit Restorative Massages & Wellness in Norwood, MA often seek treatment for chronic back and neck pain, sports-related muscle soreness, stress and anxiety relief, and recovery from physical activity or injury. Many clients in the Norwood and Norfolk County area also use massage therapy as part of an ongoing wellness routine to maintain flexibility and overall wellbeing. The clinical approach at Restorative Massages & Wellness means sessions are adapted to address your specific concerns rather than following a one-size-fits-all format.
Restorative Massages & Wellness in Norwood, MA is open seven days a week, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday through Saturday. These extended hours are designed to accommodate clients with busy schedules, including those who need early morning or evening appointments. To confirm availability or schedule a session, it is recommended that you contact Restorative Massages & Wellness directly.
Restorative Massages & Wellness offers corporate and on-site chair massage services for businesses and events in the Norwood, MA area and surrounding Norfolk County communities. Chair massage may be a popular option for workplace wellness programs, employee appreciation events, and corporate health initiatives. A minimum of 5 sessions per visit is required for on-site bookings.
You can reach Restorative Massages & Wellness in Norwood, MA by calling (781) 349-6608 or by emailing info.restorativemassages@gmail.com. You can also book online to learn more about services and schedule your appointment. The center is located at 714 Washington St, Norwood, MA 02062 and is open seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Restorative Massages & Wellness serves clients from Stoughton seeking clinical massage therapy, stretching therapy, and full wellness services in Norwood, MA.