DOCTOR ON CALL ASK THE EXPERT:YOU RARELY hear of a professional golfer who is unable to play because of golfer's elbow. Why is this? Dr Muiris Houstonexplains.

THE CORRECT medical term for golfer's elbow is medial epicondylitis. The suffix - itis - is used in medicine to describe inflammation while the epicondyle is a bony part of the elbow. Medial refers to the side of the elbow nearest the torso. So golfer's elbow causes severe pain on the inner aspect of the elbow with associated swelling of the muscle tendon overlying the bone.

Bending and twisting the wrist or gripping with the hand causes pain on the palm side of the forearm from the elbow to the wrist. The injury is made worse by pushing the elbow joint to the end of its range of movement - something that is associated with poor sport technique.

Which is probably the reason why we are unlikely to hear that Tiger Woods or Pádraig Harrington has withdrawn from this week's Masters at Augusta. Top professionals employ a retinue of coaches, psychologists and nutritionists and have access to high-quality physiotherapy and medical advice on tour. They are unlikely to use poor techniques; in addition, access to accurate diagnosis and medical treatment is immediate when injury does strike.

For the amateur golfer or pitch-and-putt enthusiast who develops golfer's elbow, it is important not to play through the injury. Treatment involves the use of rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). Resting the injured part minimises swelling and prevents the injury from worsening. The application of an ice pack limits inflammation and reduces pain while using a support bandage and elevating the injury helps reduce swelling.

Once it is healed, however, strengthening exercises for the wrist, elbow and shoulder should be undertaken under supervision.

Sports injuries which are slow to resolve should be treated by a physiotherapist specialising in the rehabilitation of sports injuries.

The most common cause of sports injury is overuse and generally the result of faulty training methods or techniques. In addition, injuries are more likely if you do not warm up properly before a game or if you return to a sport after an absence without building up gradually. To avoid recurrence of injury you might invest in a couple of refresher lessons with a professional golfer in order to work on any faulty techniques.

Dr Muiris Houston is Medical Correspondent of The Irish Times. Queries to sportsdoctor@irish-times.ie