Did you know that certain sports and professions can make you prone to elbow problems, thanks to repetitive movements and high pressure on the joint? Sports like tennis, squash, golf, and even weight lifting are often associated with elbow pain. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, love hitting the gym, or don’t consider yourself fit at all, you can suffer from elbow pain.

Reasons for elbow pain

The elbow joint has three different bones- the ulna, the radius, and the humerus. It also has tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and nerves. Where the elbow pain occurs can play a big factor in what kind of treatment you will require, as an elbow injury to the ulna is different from an elbow injury to the humerus. Elbow pain can also spread to the forearm (downwards to the wrist) or the upper arm (before the shoulder joint), and may cause a compromised sense of movement.

It may seem that your elbow pain may come on with no rhyme or reason. It is important to note that elbow pain is often caused by overuse. Commonly called tendonitis or tennis elbow, it is very common among those who enjoy many different kinds of sports, not just tennis players. Other causes can be degenerative diseases like arthritis, or even just sprains and strains often due to sudden movement or pressure.

More serious reasons for elbow pain could be from a fracture or dislocation of the bone in the joint. Apart from just pain, you may also experience clumsiness, a weak grip, tingling, and/or inability to straighten your arm. We encourage you to seek medical attention for serious elbow pain injuries. If your doctor recommends PT, or you’re interested in a non-surgical, conservative option, keep our BC + PT physical therapists in mind!

Physical therapy for elbow pain

If your doctor does recommend surgery for your elbow pain, physical therapy is a great option for you both before or after surgery. Your BC + PT therapist will provide you with stretching and strengthening exercises tailored to your unique case that can help restore movement and mobility. Physical therapists can also recommend a range of exercises to restore joint flexibility and improve the range of movement.

Each treatment plan here at BC + PT is tailored to the individual. The exercises and other treatments recommended by your physical therapist will depend on the cause of the problem and the medical treatment (if a doctor prescribed it). In any case, exercises play a large role in reducing pain and enhancing your range of motion. You may even be prescribed certain exercises that you should do daily once the original issue resolves as a preventive measure.