By the RedLightPainLab Research Team · Published June 10, 2026 · Last updated June 10, 2026
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Red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), may help golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), the inner-elbow cousin of tennis elbow. The direct research on golfer’s elbow is thin, but the strong tennis elbow evidence and broader tendon studies point to the same approach: aim red or near-infrared light at the sore inner-elbow tendon for 10 to 15 minutes most days, alongside rehab. The honest caveat is that golfer’s elbow is far less studied than tennis elbow.
The short version
- Golfer’s elbow is medial epicondylitis: pain on the inner side of the elbow, where the wrist-flexor tendons attach.
- Direct red light evidence for golfer’s elbow is limited; most of the research is on tennis elbow, its outer-elbow counterpart.
- The biology is the same, so the tennis elbow findings reasonably carry over: aim the light at the tendon, alongside exercise.
- Aim matters more than depth, because the tendon is just under the skin.
- Mind the funny-bone nerve on the inner elbow; if you get tingling into the ring and little fingers, see a clinician.
Does red light therapy work for golfer’s elbow?
Probably modestly, but be honest about the evidence. Golfer’s elbow has very little dedicated red light research. The closest high-quality evidence is for its outer-elbow counterpart, tennis elbow, where a meta-analysis of 13 trials found short-term pain relief and less disability when the light hit the tendon (Bjordal et al., 2008). Broader tendon research also found that, added to exercise, photobiomodulation improves pain and function in tendinopathy (tendinopathy meta-analysis, 2021). Because golfer’s elbow is the same kind of tendon problem on the other side of the joint, it is reasonable to expect a similar, modest benefit, but we cannot promise the same numbers without golfer’s-elbow-specific trials.
Golfer’s elbow vs tennis elbow
They are mirror images. Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) hurts on the inner elbow, where the wrist-flexor and pronator tendons attach, and flares with gripping, twisting, and wrist flexion. Tennis elbow hurts on the outer elbow. The treatment idea is the same, and because tennis elbow is much better studied, our tennis elbow guide is the most detailed evidence we have. See also our elbow pain hub.
How does it ease golfer’s elbow?
Red and near-infrared light is absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondria, which raises ATP, improves local blood flow, and helps calm inflammation (Hamblin, 2018). For an overloaded flexor tendon, that can mean less pain and a better environment to heal, especially when you are also loading the tendon with rehab.
Where to aim it
Golfer’s elbow pain centers on the medial epicondyle, the bony bump on the inner side of your elbow. Press around and find the most tender point. One caution unique to this side: the ulnar nerve (your funny bone) runs just behind the medial epicondyle, so keep the light on the tender tendon, and if you feel tingling shooting into your ring and little fingers, stop and see a clinician, because that points to a nerve issue rather than the tendon.
How to use red light therapy on golfer’s elbow
- Find the tender bony bump on the inner elbow (the medial epicondyle).
- Use a device with red and near-infrared light; a small panel or an elbow wrap works well.
- Hold it close, a few inches from the skin, over the tender spot.
- Treat 10 to 15 minutes per session, about 4 to 5 days a week.
- Pair it with eccentric wrist-flexor and forearm exercises, the loading that rebuilds the tendon.
- Give it 4 to 8 weeks, then reassess.
Is it safe?
Red light therapy itself is low risk and the tendon studies reported no serious side effects. The only golfer’s-elbow-specific caution is the nearby ulnar nerve: keep the light on the tendon, and get checked if you have numbness or tingling into the ring and little fingers, weakness, or pain that followed a fall.
What does it cost?
Expect to pay out of pocket. You do not need a large panel for the elbow, a small panel or an elbow wrap is enough and keeps the cost low.
Choosing a device for golfer’s elbow
Look for red and near-infrared light and a form factor that hugs the elbow, a small panel or wrap, with third-party-tested specs. See our device rankings. As an independent site, our current overall pick is the RLT Home TotalSpectrum. For more, see our guides to elbow pain, tennis elbow, and knee pain.
Frequently asked questions
Does red light therapy work for golfer’s elbow?
Likely modestly, though direct evidence is limited. Most research is on tennis elbow, where it helped when aimed at the tendon; golfer’s elbow is the same kind of tendon problem on the inner elbow, so a similar effect is reasonable. Use it alongside exercise.
Where do I aim it for golfer’s elbow?
At the medial epicondyle, the tender bony bump on the inner elbow. Keep the light on the tendon and away from the funny-bone nerve just behind it.
How long until it helps?
Give it a few weeks. Try 10 to 15 minutes per session, 4 to 5 days a week, for 4 to 8 weeks, alongside eccentric forearm exercises, then reassess.
Is golfer’s elbow as well studied as tennis elbow?
No. Tennis elbow has a meta-analysis behind it; golfer’s elbow has very little dedicated red light research, so its evidence is borrowed from tennis elbow and general tendon studies.
Is red light therapy FDA approved for golfer’s elbow?
Red light therapy panels are FDA registered, not FDA cleared or approved. A few medical laser units carry 510(k) clearance, but consumer panels do not.
References
- Bjordal JM, et al. A systematic review with procedural assessments and meta-analysis of low level laser therapy in lateral elbow tendinopathy (tennis elbow). BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2008;9:75. PubMed
- The effect of low-level red and near-infrared photobiomodulation on pain and function in tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. 2021. PMC
- Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and mitochondrial redox signaling in photobiomodulation. Photochemistry and Photobiology. 2018;94(2):199-212. PMC
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new treatment, including red light therapy.
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