Sport Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy for Elbow Pain
We provide treatment for elbow pain stiffness, weakness and loss of mobility. The elbow is a commonly treated joint at Metro Physio so we have great experience in elbow treatment and rehabilitation. If you are suffering with any of the above symptoms, early diagnosis and treatment will help you achieve optimal results.
We will identify during your initial assessment the cause of your elbow pain and advise the most appropriate course of action.
The elbow is a complex hinge joint formed between the long bone of the upper arm the humerus and the long bones of the forearm the ulna and radius. This complex joint allows the elbow to bend and straighten and also allows the wrist joint to rotate. It also has strong ligaments and a joint capsule which gives extra stability.
Common Questions about Elbow Pain
What are the causes of my elbow pain?
Elbow pain can be caused by many factors such as trauma, age related degenerative changes, working with poor arm posture i.e. usually having the arm too far away from the body. The most common cause is repetitive gripping and lifting which can be significantly compounded if done with poor technique or in poor posture. Also, a common cause is repetitive typing and use of a mouse which again is further compounded by a poorly set up workstation.
What are common elbow injuries?
The most common elbow injury by some margin is tennis elbow also known as lateral epicondylopathy, with other common conditions being golfers’ elbow (medial epicondylopathy) and osteoarthritis of the elbow. Less common conditions are bursitis and cubital and radial tunnel syndrome, which are types of neuritis. For more details about some of the most common elbow injuries please click on the name of the condition below.
What causes elbow pain without injury?
The overwhelming majority of elbow pain occurs without injury and is usually a form of tendinopathy which can either be due to overuse or degenerative changes to the tendon. The next most common reason is age-related degenerative changes to the joint known as osteoarthritis, but a more accurate term is osteoarthrosis.
What is elbow tendinopathy?
A tendon is a strong tensile structure that connects a muscle to a bone and when it ceases to function properly this is known as tendinopathy. This is also referred to as tendinitis – inflammation of the tendon – or tendinosis, which is wear and tear of the tendon.
What is the best treatment for elbow tendinopathy?
There may initially need to be a short period of resting from the aggravating factors if the tendon is acutely painful. Treatment will then consist of soft tissue techniques, mobilisations and electrotherapy but by far the most important treatment is a slow progressive loading and rehabilitation programme.
Why does the outside of my elbow hurt?
This is the most common site of elbow pain and is almost always Tennis elbow, it may also be radial tunnel syndrome or osteoarthrosis of the elbow or if due to trauma may be a ligamentous injury.
Why does the inside of my elbow hurt?
This is the second most common site of elbow pain and is almost always Golfers elbow, it may also be cubital tunnel syndrome or osteoarthrosis of the elbow or if due to trauma may be a ligamentous injury.
Why does my elbow hurt when I straighten my arm?
This can happen with very severe golfers or tennis elbow but the more common cause is osteoarthritis of the elbow that limits the ability to fully straighten the arm and more so limit the ability to fully bend the arm.
When will physical therapy not be appropriate?
Physical therapy is usually the most appropriate treatment but may not be appropriate if the injury was caused by severe trauma that needs further investigations such as an X-ray or MRI scan that may identity surgery is appropriate.
Will surgery to help my elbow injury be likely?
It is rare that physical therapy does not resolve the majority of elbow problems and the next stage for some conditions is injection therapy so it is rare to require surgery.
Get Treatment for Elbow Pain
If you need treatment for elbow pain, please contact us. We can provide an assessment to determine the cause of your elbow pain and decide the best course of action.
To find out more about what we can do for your elbow pain, to diagnose your pain, or just to speak to a member of our team for more information please get in touch here or call 0161 745 7551 or 0151 515 2323