At Reset Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we often meet patients who arrive frustrated and discouraged after trying everything they can think of to fix a stubborn issue. Recently, a patient came to our office with chronic golfer’s elbow—persistent medial elbow pain that simply wouldn’t go away no matter how much he stretched, iced, or massaged it.
Like many people, he assumed the problem was located where he felt it: his elbow. But pain doesn’t always tell the whole story.
The Mystery Behind His Persistent Elbow Pain
Although his elbow showed signs of tendon irritation, something more important stood out during his evaluation: significant restrictions in his shoulder and upper back. We were able to quickly find this mobility issue with the FMS Shoulder Mobility Screening — something we would have missed if we just looked at his elbow alone.
He had difficulty with:
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Shoulder mobility
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Thoracic extension and rotation to the right
These mobility limitations forced him to compensate during everyday activities—lifting, reaching, carrying, swinging, even something as simple as pouring coffee. Over time, these altered movement patterns overloaded the flexor tendons on the inside of his elbow.
That tendon overload due to the overall movement patterns was the real reason his golfer’s elbow was recurring.
Why Treating Only the Elbow Doesn’t Work
When treatment focuses only on the painful area—stretching, icing, or massaging the elbow—the relief is almost always temporary. Without correcting the movement dysfunction behind the problem:
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The pain returns within days
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The irritation becomes chronic
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The tendon gradually weakens
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And in the worst cases, this can lead to a partial or even full-thickness tear
This patient was stuck in that cycle. His elbow wasn’t the cause—it was the casualty.
Our Reset Chiropractic Approach: Treat the Root, Then the Pain
At Reset Chiropractic & Wellness Center, our goal is always to find and correct the root cause, not just mask symptoms.
1. Restoring Shoulder & Upper Back Function
We began by addressing the true source of the issue:
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Chiropractic adjustments
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Manual manipulation of the upper back and shoulder
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Targeted mobility exercises
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Strengthening exercises for the shoulder girdle, upper back, and arm
By restoring proper movement and stability, we reduced the compensations that had been overloading his elbow for months.
2. Healing the Tendon With Radial Shockwave Therapy
Once we corrected his movement patterns, we also focused directly on helping the injured tendon heal.
We introduced radial shockwave therapy to his elbow to:
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Stimulate the body’s natural healing response
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Increase circulation
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Break down dysfunctional tissue
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Promote tendon repair
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Speed up recovery without invasive procedures
This therapy accelerates healing from the inside out and is especially effective for long-standing tendon problems like golfer’s elbow.
3. Creating a Long-Term Solution
With:
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Improved upper-body mobility
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Stronger shoulder and back musculature
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Corrected movement patterns
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And enhanced tendon healing through shockwave therapy
…his elbow finally began to recover permanently, not just for a few days at a time.
The Takeaway
Chronic golfer’s elbow—or any persistent joint pain—often has causes far from the painful spot. By treating the shoulder, back, and elbow together, we were able to resolve the true source of this patient’s pain and help his body heal correctly.
If you’re dealing with recurring elbow pain, shoulder tightness, or movement limitations, we’d love to help you reset your body, restore proper function, and get back to living pain-free. Book your evaluation online with us today to get started.
Q: What is the best treatment for golfer’s elbow in Bloomingdale, IL?
At Reset Chiropractic, we treat golfer’s elbow by correcting shoulder and upper back dysfunction, using radial shockwave therapy, and prescribing mobility and strengthening exercises.
Q: Do you offer radial shockwave therapy near Roselle or Itasca?
Yes. Patients from Roselle, Itasca, and Medinah regularly come to our Bloomingdale clinic for shockwave therapy to help heal chronic elbow tendon injuries.
Q: Why does my golfer’s elbow keep coming back?
Recurring golfer’s elbow is often caused by poor shoulder mobility or upper back stiffness. If these aren’t corrected, the elbow tendon continues to overload and flare up.
Q: How long does golfer’s elbow take to heal with chiropractic and shockwave therapy?
Most patients begin feeling improvement within a few sessions, with more permanent relief as mobility, strength, and tendon healing improve.
