Physical Therapy for Elbow Pain

What Causes Elbow Pain?

Elbow pain is commonly caused by overuse, injury, and osteoarthritis. Some conditions that may cause elbow pain include: 

• Golfer’s elbow
• Tennis elbow
• UCL tear
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis

Who is at Risk of Elbow Pain?

Anyone at any age can have elbow pain. However, the following can increase your risk of developing elbow pain:

• Playing a sport that requires repetitive elbow use (tennis, baseball, golf, etc.)
• Working a job that requires repetitive elbow use (factory worker, construction worker, anything that requires a lot of computer use)
• Being over the age of 30

How Does a Physical Therapist Treat Elbow Pain?

When you come to see one of our physical therapists, they will ask you about your symptoms and concerns and how they affect your everyday life. They will also conduct a physical examination to evaluate your strength, coordination, balance, and flexibility.

Based on your initial evaluation and past medical history, your physical therapist will come up with a range of exercises to do in PT as well as at-home.

Physical Therapy Exercises for Elbow Pain

Your physical therapist may come up with a range of strengthening and stretching exercises for your elbow pain. The types of exercises you do will depend on your condition and your goals, but here are some simple elbow exercises they may recommend:

Towel Twists

Sit in a chair and hold a rolled-up towel with both hands. Twist the towel with both hands, twisting in opposite directions. Do 2 sets of 10 twists.

Wrist Flexor Stretch

Put the arm of the affected elbow out straight and make a stop sign with your hand. Use your other hand to pull your fingers back and hold this stretch for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times.

Wrist Extensor Stretch

Put the arm of the affected elbow out straight and point your fingers towards the floor. Use your other hand to pull your fingers back towards your body and hold this stretch for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times.

Elbow Bend                                                                       

Start by standing straight with your arms at your sides. Bend the arm of the affected elbow up so that your hand touches your shoulder. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

Stress Ball Squeeze

Hold a stress ball or some sort of cushion ball in the hand of the affected elbow. Squeeze for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times. If you experience any pain, stop this exercise.

Seek Help from a Physical Therapist Near You

If you or a loved one is experiencing elbow pain, seek help from a physical therapist near you. MPOWER Physical Therapy is home to some of the best physical therapy in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood! If you are interested in seeing on of our orthopedic focused physical therapists, request an appointment online or call us.

Author

Marina von Rutenberg Marina is the Marketing Coordinator for Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics. She has been writing and reviewing medical content since 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-von-rutenberg/