How do I deal with elbow pain from BJJ?

Elbow issues in BJJ fall into two categories. Acute injuries typically result from armbars applied too quickly or stubbornly refusing to tap. These require rest, ice, and sometimes medical evaluation if there is significant swelling or limited range of motion. Prevention comes from tapping early to armbars and not fighting submissions with your arm fully extended. Chronic elbow pain usually presents as medial epicondylitis, known as golfer elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, known as tennis elbow. These overuse injuries result from the repetitive gripping, pulling, and gripping battles in BJJ training. Treatment includes rest from aggravating activities, ice after training, forearm stretching, and eccentric wrist curl exercises that strengthen the affected tendons. An elbow strap or compression sleeve can provide support during training. Modifying your grip style to reduce stress on the forearm extensors and flexors helps with chronic issues. If elbow pain persists despite conservative treatment, a physiotherapist can provide manual therapy and targeted exercise programs.