Red Light Therapy for Golfer's Elbow: Evidence, Aim and Exercises
Red light therapy for golfer's elbow has little research of its own: most light trials studied tennis elbow on the outer elbow, so the evidence for the inner elbow is indirect. The closest evidence, from outer elbow reviews, found light on the sore tendon eased pain more than placebo, and a tendon review found it helped when added to exercise. Below: the research, where to aim, the nerve symptom to check first, exercises, golf and gym load, braces, healing time and panel set-up.
Key takeaways
- Golfer's elbow is about a third as common as tennis elbow: a population study of 4,783 adults aged 30 to 64 found it in 0.4%, against 1.3% for tennis elbow. Am J Epidemiol, 2006
- The one light trial we found that included golfer's elbow had 324 people, 50 of them with golfer's elbow, and did not report their results separately. Simunovic, 1998
- A 2008 review of 13 placebo-controlled tennis elbow trials with 730 patients found pain 10.2 mm lower on a 100 mm scale with light. Bjordal, 2008
- A 2021 review of 17 tendon trials with 835 people found pain 1.06 points lower when light was added to exercise than when sham light was. Tripodi, 2021
- An NHS referral guide says 90% of people with tennis or golfer's elbow make a full recovery within a year. NHS Tayside
Does red light therapy for golfer's elbow help?
The closest evidence says light can ease tendon pain when it is added to exercise, but most of it comes from tennis elbow, so for the inner elbow it is indirect. The tendons, the overload behind them and the care plan are much alike, which makes the outer elbow research the sensible starting point.
Only one light trial we found included golfer's elbow. It enrolled 324 people, 50 with golfer's elbow, and combined 830 nm light on trigger points with a red and near-infrared scanner. Simunovic, 1998
| Source | What it studied | Main finding |
|---|---|---|
| Simunovic, 1998 | 324 people, 50 with golfer's elbow | Inner and outer elbow results reported together |
| Bjordal, 2008 | 13 trials, 730 patients, outer elbow | Pain 10.2 mm lower than placebo on a 100 mm scale |
| Vasseljen, 1992 | 30 people, outer elbow, 8 sessions | Pain and grip strength improved more than with placebo, 4 weeks after treatment |
| Tripodi, 2021 | 17 tendon trials, 835 people | Light plus exercise: pain 1.06 points lower than sham plus exercise |
| See, 2026 | 5 exercise studies, 143 people, golfer's elbow | Slow lowering exercise linked to less pain and better function |
The small 1992 trial found an effect over placebo, and its authors saw light as part of a wider plan. Vasseljen, 1992 A 2018 umbrella review of the outer elbow reviews agrees: light belongs alongside other care. Mamais, 2018
The gap is not special to light. A 2026 exercise review found only 5 small studies and says golfer's elbow "remains less studied than lateral epicondylitis". See, 2026 Most research on red light therapy for elbow pain sits in our tennis elbow guide, which covers the outer elbow trials in full.
How is golfer's elbow different from tennis elbow, and where should the light go?
Golfer's elbow hurts on the inner bony point of the elbow, where the muscles that bend the wrist and fingers and turn the forearm inward attach. Tennis elbow hurts on the outer point, so for golfer's elbow the light goes on the inner side.
That inner bump is the medial epicondyle. The pronator teres, which turns the palm down, is the muscle most often injured. AAOS OrthoInfo Pain can spread down the inner forearm, and the elbow may feel stiff with a weaker grip. Mayo Clinic
Pain on the inner elbow when you bend the wrist or turn the forearm against resistance points to golfer's elbow. Merck Manual Aim at that sore spot: the inner bony point and the tendon just below it. A review of 10 trials found light on tender or trigger points eased pain. Chang, 2010
Is tingling in the ring and little fingers golfer's elbow or a nerve problem?
It can be either, because the ulnar nerve runs just behind the inner bony point, so tingling or numbness in these fingers needs a doctor before any light. Weakness or clumsy fingers need prompt attention.
AAOS notes that irritation of this nerve can cause "numbness and tingling in their ring and pinky fingers". AAOS OrthoInfo
- Nerve signs: tingling that comes and goes, gets worse with the elbow bent (driving, holding a phone), wakes you at night, or feels like hitting your funny bone. AAOS OrthoInfo
- When to go: AAOS advises a doctor for severe symptoms, or for milder ones that last more than 6 weeks.
- Why it matters: AAOS warns that once nerve damage causes it, "muscle wasting cannot be reversed".
What did the elbow light trials use?
Trials used small doses of laser light aimed at the sore tendon, over courses of about 2 to 4 weeks and up to 8 weeks in one trial, nearly always alongside exercise. All but one studied the outer elbow only.
| Study (outer elbow unless stated) | Light | Dose | Sessions | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simunovic, 1998 (inner and outer) | 830 nm on trigger points; 632.8 and 904 nm scanner | Not given | Not given | Not given |
| Bjordal, 2008 review | Mostly 904 nm laser; one 632 nm trial | 0.5 to 7.2 J | Varied | Median about 3 weeks |
| Stergioulas, 2007 | 904 nm laser with plyometric exercise | 2.4 J/cm² | Twice a week, then weekly | 8 weeks, 12 sessions |
| Lam and Cheing, 2007 | 904 nm laser with exercise | 0.275 J per tender point | Not stated | 9 sessions |
| WALT dose table, 2010 | 780 to 860 nm laser | 4 J over 1 to 2 points | Daily, or every other day | 2 weeks, or 3 to 4 weeks |
In the 8-week trial, light plus exercise was a "more effective treatment than placebo laser". Stergioulas, 2007 The 9-session trial also favoured light with exercise. Lam and Cheing, 2007 The WALT table has an outer elbow row and no inner elbow row. WALT, 2010
Every trial lit the skin over the elbow, and none stated a distance. Laser joules per point do not convert into a broad panel's settings. What carries over is small doses on the sore tendon, regular sessions for a few weeks, and exercise alongside. To stay near that range with a panel, use a shorter timer, dim the channels or step back to 12 inches. Our guide to how much red light therapy is too much explains why more is not better.
Which exercises should go with red light for the inner elbow?
A stretching and strengthening programme does the main work, with slow lowering of the wrist as the core exercise. Light fits on the same day, and light first, then exercises, is one easy order.
- Stretch: a wrist stretch with the elbow straight; hold 20 seconds, 4 times, 3 times a day. NHS inform
- Hold: once early exercises are pain-free, hold the wrist still against resistance for 5 to 10 seconds, 5 to 10 times. NHS Borders
- Slow lowering: forearm on a table, palm up, a light weight in the hand; lower it slowly, 3 sets of 12, once a day. NHS inform
- Comfort: some discomfort during exercise is normal; ease back if pain gets worse, then build up again. UHDB NHS
Can you keep playing golf or lifting weights with golfer's elbow?
Ease off whatever sets off the pain, then return gradually, practising the motions first, because Mayo Clinic warns that "Pushing through pain can make golfer's elbow worse." Light does not replace those load changes.
- Golf: warm up, ask a coach or golf pro to check your swing, and consider lighter clubs if yours are old and heavy. Mayo Clinic
- Grip: use the least grip force you can, or a larger grip, and stop sport for a few weeks if needed. Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
- Gym: Mayo lists weight training with poor form, such as "curling the wrists during the completion of a biceps curl". Keep a firm, straight wrist when lifting.
- Lifting: a palms-down grip is often more comfortable while the elbow settles. UHDB NHS
Should you take a golfer's elbow brace off for a red light session?
Yes, take a self-care strap or clasp off for the session, because light needs bare skin, then put it back on for activity. Never remove a splint or brace that a clinician has told you to keep on.
NHS Borders describes the epicondylar clasp as a strap "which aims to remove some of the tension from the tendons". NHS Borders
Do ice, anti-inflammatory gels or a cortisone injection change how you use light?
They can sit in the same plan, but keep ice and light as separate sessions and check any medicine first. After an injection, ask the clinician who gave it before adding light to that elbow.
- Ice: Mayo suggests 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day for a few days, wrapped in a thin towel. Let the skin return to its normal temperature before a light session.
- Medicines: DermNet lists ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and ketoprofen among medicines that can make skin sensitive to light. DermNet Our precautions rule out use with photosensitising medication, so check with your pharmacist or doctor before using the panel if you take any medicine, tablets or gel.
- Injection: Mayo notes steroid injections are not often used for golfer's elbow, so whether to have one is a decision for your doctor.
How long does golfer's elbow take to heal, and when should you judge the light?
Most cases settle within a year, and NHS Tayside says 90% of people make a full recovery in that time. Keep panel settings the same for three to four weeks before judging whether light is adding anything.
The Tayside guide says pain typically lasts 6 to 12 months. NHS Tayside Mayo Clinic says healing can take several months or longer, flare-ups can come back, and surgery is considered only after 6 to 12 months.
In the outer elbow review, light still led placebo by 11.30 mm 3 to 8 weeks after the course. Bjordal, 2008 At home, score pain out of 10 each week on one set task, such as lifting a kettle palm up or gripping a club.
How do you set up a Kivorla panel for the inner elbow?
Sit side-on to the panel with your elbow slightly bent and your palm turned up, so the inner bony point faces the light at about 6 inches, goggles on and eyes closed. Run the red and near-infrared channels for 10 to 15 minutes, three to five times a week, on the same days as your exercises.
The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel carries 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%. Its 630 nm channel sits next to the 632 nm red used in elbow research, and 810 and 830 nm sit inside the WALT 780 to 860 nm band. The mask is for the face only.
- Position: hang it on a door or wall with the included door hook, pulley, hanging cables and screws, with its centre at elbow height as you sit, or stand it upright on the floor.
- Arm: elbow slightly bent, forearm turned palm up, inner elbow toward the panel. Bare, clean skin, strap off, and do not rest the arm on the panel.
- Distance: about 6 inches once you are used to it. It is fine to start at about 12 inches with a shorter session and dimmed channels.
- Channels: 630, 660 and 670 nm on; 810, 830 and 850 nm on; 1060 nm optional; 480 and 590 nm at their lowest or off; pulse off for continuous light.
- Timer: 10 to 15 minutes. It runs from 1 to 30 minutes, and the panel stops at 5 minutes if no time is set.
- Both elbows: one at a time, keeping each sitting to 30 minutes or less and leaving at least 6 hours before the next.
- Warmth: the surface stays at or below 40°C. Warm is fine, hot is not: step back or stop.
Stay side-on so the light stays off your face, and never look into the panel. Our goggles guide explains why invisible near-infrared needs eye protection, and our arms guide covers the forearm and upper arm.
When should you see a doctor before using red light on your elbow?
See a doctor first for tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers, a hot swollen elbow with a fever, an elbow you cannot bend, or one that looks out of place. Pain that does not ease with rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relief also needs checking.
- Right away: a swollen, warm elbow with a fever, an elbow you cannot bend, one that "looks odd or out of place", or a possible broken bone. Mayo Clinic
- Urgent advice: a sudden pop or snap with weakness.
- Diabetes: Mayo lists it as a risk factor. With reduced feeling, start at 12 inches with a short session and check your skin afterwards; numb fingers need a doctor.
- After surgery: only once the wound has fully closed and the surgeon agrees, never over stitches; ask the surgeon first about any anchors or implants.
Our precautions rule the panel out if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or preparing for pregnancy; have epilepsy or seizures triggered by light; have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication; take photosensitising medication; have broken skin on the area; have had sunburn on your body in the past 2 weeks; or have Fitzpatrick skin type V or VI. For wider tendon advice, see our tendonitis guide.
Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. Read the precautions before ordering. Under our return and refund policy, returns are accepted within 30 days: an unopened device with its seals intact is refunded less a 10% restocking fee, and an opened device that is undamaged and complete is refunded less 20%.
Kivorla devices are general wellness devices, not medical devices, and are not intended to treat golfer's elbow. See a doctor for tingling in the ring and little fingers, a hot swollen elbow or pain that is not settling, and keep the exercises and load changes your physiotherapist has advised.