ELBOW PAIN
Understanding Elbow Pain
The elbow plays an important role in nearly everything we do with our hands and arms—from lifting and gripping to working, training, and playing sports. Elbow pain can develop suddenly following an injury or gradually from repetitive activity and increased loading. Understanding what’s contributing to your symptoms can help determine the right approach to recovery.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SYMPTOMS
Elbow pain can make simple tasks surprisingly difficult.
The elbow works closely with the muscles and tendons of the forearm, as well as the wrist and shoulder. Symptoms can therefore vary depending on the tissues involved and the activities that place stress on the area.
COMMON SYMPTOMS
Pain around the inside or outside of the elbow
Pain with gripping or carrying
Discomfort when lifting, pushing, or pulling
Pain during throwing, swinging, or racquet sports
Stiffness or reduced elbow movement
Weakness or reduced confidence using the arm
COMMON CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Repetitive gripping or lifting
Sudden increases in activity or training
Muscle or tendon irritation
Repetitive throwing or upper-body activity
Sports or workplace demands
Previous injury or trauma
COMMON ELBOW CONDITIONS
Elbow pain can be associated with a number of different injuries and conditions. Some commonly encountered examples include:
Tennis Elbow
Irritation involving the tendons on the outside of the elbow, commonly associated with repetitive gripping, lifting, or wrist activity—not just tennis.
Golfer's Elbow
Similar tendon-related symptoms affecting the inside of the elbow and often aggravated by gripping, wrist movement, or repetitive loading.
Elbow Sprains & Strains
Injuries involving muscles, tendons, or ligaments around the elbow, often following sudden loading, overstretching, or trauma.
Throwing Related Injuries
Repetitive throwing can place significant stress on the elbow, particularly in athletes involved in baseball and other overhead sports.
Elbow Bursitis
Irritation of the bursa at the back of the elbow can cause localized swelling, tenderness, and discomfort, particularly with pressure on the elbow.
Nerve Irritation
Nerves travelling through the elbow can become irritated and may produce pain, tingling, numbness, or other symptoms extending into the forearm or hand.
The activity that hurts can provide important clues.
Understanding when your symptoms occur—and the loads your elbow regularly experiences—helps us identify what may be contributing and how to approach recovery.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Building your elbow's capacity for what you need it to do.
We assess more than just the painful area. Depending on your symptoms, this may include elbow movement, muscle and tendon function, grip strength, and how the wrist and shoulder contribute during the activities that matter to you.
Thorough Assessment
We’ll discuss your symptoms, activities, training or workplace demands, and goals while assessing relevant movement, strength, joints, muscles, and tendons.
Hands-On Care
When appropriate, joint mobilization and soft tissue techniques may be used to help manage symptoms and restore comfortable movement.
Rehabilitation
Progressive strengthening and mobility exercises help rebuild the elbow’s capacity to tolerate gripping, lifting, sport, work, and other everyday demands.
Education
We’ll help you understand what’s aggravating your symptoms and how to appropriately modify and gradually rebuild those activities.
The goal isn’t simply to avoid whatever makes your elbow hurt. It’s to gradually restore your ability to tolerate the activities you need and want to do.
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Give irritated tissues an opportunity to recover without abandoning movement.
Modify The Load
If a particular activity repeatedly aggravates your elbow, temporarily adjusting its weight, volume, frequency, grip, or technique may allow symptoms to settle while maintaining activity.
Maintain Comfortable Movement
Continue moving the elbow through comfortable ranges where appropriate rather than unnecessarily immobilizing it.
Consider an Assessment If:
- Pain isn’t improving
- Symptoms repeatedly return
- Grip strength or arm function is decreasing
- Pain interferes with work, exercise, sport, or everyday activities
- You’re experiencing persistent numbness or tingling
*Please note that these are general examples and do not replace medical advice.
Seek Urgent Medical Attention If:
- Significant pain or loss of function follows major trauma
- The elbow appears visibly deformed
- You suddenly cannot bend, straighten, or use the arm normally
- Significant swelling, redness, warmth, or fever develops
- Progressive weakness, numbness, or other concerning neurological symptoms develop
*Please note that these are general examples and do not replace medical advice.
Let's build a plan that works for you.
Whether you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with ongoing pain, or looking to improve the way you move, we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence.