I Have Golfer’s Elbow and My Elbow Feels Stiff in the Morning

Your elbow may feel stiff and sore when you first wake up because golfer’s elbow can leave the inner elbow tendon tight and uncomfortable after several hours of rest.

You may notice that your elbow feels almost stuck when you first wake up, with the inside of the elbow feeling tight, tender, or sore. Straightening your arm, reaching across the bed, or picking something up can make the stiffness more obvious before the elbow loosens.

Golfer’s elbow involves the tendon on the inside of the elbow where several forearm muscles attach. When that area has been repeatedly stressed by gripping, swinging, lifting, or other activity, it can stay sore between activities, and several hours without movement during sleep can make the first movements of the morning feel especially stiff.

Your Elbow Feels Tight With The First Morning Movements

The first time you bend or straighten your elbow in the morning may feel stiff, tight, or mildly painful.

You might notice the discomfort when you push yourself up in bed, reach for something, or simply move your arm after waking. The elbow can feel restricted at first because the sore area has been still for hours, then gradually loosen as you move around.

Your Elbow Loosens Up But Gets Stiff Again Later

The morning stiffness may improve once you get moving, only to return after another round of gripping or activity.

You may feel much better after getting dressed and using your arm normally, but gripping a club, carrying something, or working with your hands can bring soreness back. By the next morning, the same stiffness can be there again because the elbow has been stressed repeatedly without enough time to settle.

Why Your Elbow Stiffness Keeps Returning Each Morning

Your elbow can take longer to recover when blood flow and circulation are reduced.

Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues can become irritated or strained through repeated movement, overuse, awkward movements, prolonged positions, or everyday activities. Some of these tissues, particularly tendons and ligaments, naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body and may take longer to recover after irritation or injury. Recovery can take even longer when the same movements or activities continue to place stress on them.

Reduced circulation through the area can make it harder for the tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly. This can leave your elbow feeling sore, tight, weak, stiff, or painful during everyday activities.

How To Help Your Elbow Feel Better

Improving blood flow and circulation can help your elbow feel better.

For centuries, Chinese herbs have been used to support healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help disperse stagnant blood and excess fluids that can collect around irritated or injured tissues and restrict normal circulation. As circulation begins moving more freely, fresh blood can better deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the area to help it recover properly.

Topical remedies containing these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain and other symptoms while supporting healthy blood flow and circulation around the elbow. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether the problem is recent or has been ongoing for some time.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Bruise Relief Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the irritated tissues. As circulation improves, fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients can more easily reach the tissues that need them for healing.

If the area is especially swollen, red, or warm after a recent injury or flare-up, Ice Substitute Poultice can also be used to reduce swelling and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids. As swelling and trapped fluids are reduced, circulation can move more freely through the area.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold weather, Pain Relief Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood flow to irritated tendons and ligaments. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply and can take longer to recover.

If you continue to have pain or stiffness around an injured tendon or ligament, or the area feels more painful in cold weather, Tendon and Ligament Poultice can also be used to further stimulate circulation to the area. By increasing circulation, it helps offset the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather, which can aggravate chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If your muscles feel sore or tight, or if you are preparing for exercise or strenuous activity, Muscle Therapy Massage Oil warms and stimulates the muscles, increases circulation, relieves tightness, and improves flexibility. Using it before activity helps warm up the muscles, while applying it afterward can help relieve soreness and stiffness.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does my golfer’s elbow feel stiff in the morning?

Repeated stress can leave the inner elbow tendon sore, and several hours without movement can make the first morning movements feel stiff.

Is morning elbow stiffness common with golfer’s elbow?

Morning stiffness can occur with golfer’s elbow, particularly when the elbow has been repeatedly stressed by gripping or other activity.

Why does my elbow loosen up after I get moving?

Gentle movement can gradually loosen the elbow after several hours of rest, making the stiffness less noticeable.

Can golfer’s elbow stiffness return the next morning?

Yes. Repeated gripping or activity during the day can leave the elbow sore again, so morning stiffness may return after another night of rest.

Should I exercise with a stiff golfer’s elbow?

Avoid activities that clearly increase your pain and give the elbow time to settle before returning to strenuous gripping or lifting.

Safety Notes

This article provides general educational information about the topic described above.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.