**21.2 Treatment**

Treatment for these varieties of ECU tendon injury should initially follow the normal treatment for tendinitis such as rest NSAID medication and splinting. Deep Oscillation Therapy has also been shown to be a promising treatment in swelling and symptom reduction] [39]. Ultrasound guided injections may also be required in resistant cases. In cases of tendinosis a similar approach is made with the addition of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections in resistant cases. This is a minimally invasive surgical alternative that uses components from a patient's own blood to regrow tissue and relieve pain and promotes tendon regeneration by reducing inflammation and promoting the expression of anabolic genes and proteins [40].

*Leading Wrist Injuries in a Golfing Population. Golf Swing Biomechanics a Significant Cause… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96979*

Rest and splinting are the cornerstone for treating a subluxing ECU tendon, with regular revaluations with Ultrasound. If the subluxing ECU tendon fails to respond to conservative therapy, surgical reconstruction of the roof of the 6th dorsal extensor compartment using a portion of the flexor carpi ulnaris is performed [41]. Type I subluxation frequently requires surgery.

Return to play will require appropriate alteration in golf grip and swing biomechanics. Therefore, the return to play protocol for this injury in the golfing population should always include an assessment from a registered golf professional. In some instances, customised splinting of the wrist will prevent reoccurrence and allow a golfer return to a bespoke practice regimen. The message of qualitative rather than quantitative practice should be reinforced to avoid a training error reoccurrence, with 30–40 balls a good rule of thumb per practice session.

### **21.3 Conclusion**

Wrist injuries in golf are common and significantly interfere with a player's ability to play and enjoy this common sporting pursuit. The ECU tendon is a frequent cause of wrist pain in the golfer. The sports medicine physician should have a high index of suspicion when dealing with this patient population. A combination of detailed history of injury and golf activity coupled with ultrasound, radiology and electrophysiological evaluation will result in a high diagnostic yield. Treatment should encompass alteration and improvement in golf swing and grip biomechanics as well as any practice or training errors.
