Elbow injury is common due to overuse syndromes, falls and sporting injuries. The elbow joint is used to perform so many functions, like flexing and rotating your forearm. Although most elbow pain conditions are not debilitating, chronic elbow pain can be particularly frustrating since the majority of arm movements depend on elbow mobility.
Click links below to learn more about conditions involving elbow joint and the most effective treatments.
The most common cause of elbow pain is overuse. It’s only too easy to overuse the elbow joint, considering that most jobs and hobbies require you to repetitively move your arm, wrist or hand. Some other causes that lead to elbow pain include:
Falls and sports injuries as the result of a direct hit can be the cause of acute pain. Fortunately, although common, these types of injuries are not repetitive in nature. In addition, sprains and strains of ligaments and muscles around the elbow joint are common. Ligamentum tears can result in elbow dislocation and fractures including stress fractures are usually the cause of acute pain that takes a patient to the hospital.
Tennis elbow is a form of tendinitis which means the tendons around elbow joined are overused. Unlike what the name suggests, this condition is not limited to tennis players. It is named the tennis elbow because of its high occurrence among tennis players. In fact, it is very common in people who use a computer for long periods of time, work in assembly lines or use equipment and devices with constant vibration. Tennis elbow affects the tendons outside of the elbow and causes pain with repetitive wrist movements. Tennis elbow is clinically known as lateral epicondylitis and is caused due to repetitive use of the forearm, arm, and hand muscles.
Characteristic symptoms of tennis elbow include:
Golfer’s elbow is a condition that affects the tendons connecting the elbow and the forearm, causing inflammation and pain. Pain is inside of the elbow. The most common cause of the condition is the overuse of muscles in the forearm that let you grip objects, flex your wrist and rotate the arm.
Flexing repetitively, gripping and swinging can create little tears in the tendons on the inside of the elbow. While golfers are relatively frequent sufferers of the condition, they’re not the only ones who can be affected. In fact, any repetitive forearm, wrist or hand motions can cause golfer’s elbow. So people who play other hand sports like baseball or tennis are susceptible to this as well, as are those who work with tools like hammers. Some symptoms of the condition include:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common musculoskeletal condition that affects the hand and fingers. Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include numbness, pins, and needles (paraesthesia), a dull ache and tingling sensation in the hand or arm. While there a number of causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, strenuous activities that require repetitive use of the hands remain the primary of the cause of the condition.
Physiotherapy is beneficial for most patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Your physiotherapist can recommend your nerve mobilization, fine motor, and hand dexterity exercises to improve the symptoms of the disease. In addition to this, ultrasound therapy, acupuncture, massage, laser therapy are also known to reduce pain and discomfort caused by the compression of nerves.
Elbow sprains & strains are common in athletes who throw a ball, use racquets or play contact sports. Ice, rest and light stretching at the onset of injury are effective. Progressive strengthening exercises are essential in treating any elbow injury.
Physiotherapists play an important role in the prevention and management of elbow injuries and conditions. They can recommend your muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises, lowering your risk of developing the condition. In addition to this, using manual therapy, such as massage and manipulation, they can offer you relief from the pain and improve the mobility and strength of the affected arm. At Physiomobility, our orthopedic and sports physiotherapists and chiropractors treat elbow injuries and elbow pain using manual therapy, modalities such as Ultrasound, laser and Shock Wave Therapy as well as acupuncture. The treatment includes elbow, wrist and shoulder and postural muscle strengthening. Our Massage therapists treat Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow applying manual techniques. If needed, we provide advice on appropriate bracing to facilitate a safe return to work and/or sports.