How Physical Therapy Can Help You Find Elbow Pain Relief
Is elbow pain compromising your quality of life? At PT Unlimited, our team, including a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), specializes in upper extremity disorders from the hand to the shoulder. With extensive training and a foundational knowledge in musculoskeletal conditions, we provide comprehensive care tailored for hand and upper limb ailments. Let us help you regain comfort and function through our expert physical therapy treatments.
Elbow pain, characterized by discomfort in the joint where your upper arm bone meets your forearm, is common. Recent reports indicate that nearly 7% of the population experiences elbow pain each year, with individuals between 40 and 60 years of age being most susceptible. From slight annoyance to severe agony, elbow pain can vary significantly in severity, often influencing daily activities.
Common conditions like tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), and cubital tunnel syndrome are often culprits behind elbow pain. Whether caused by repetitive movements, strain, or an underlying medical condition, elbow pain can significantly impact your life.
Physical therapy interventions, including manual therapy and targeted exercises, could significantly reduce pain and improve functionality in individuals with tennis elbow.
Our expert physical therapists at PT Unlimited will tailor a treatment plan specifically for your needs. We aim to alleviate your pain, enhance your mobility, and prevent recurrence by addressing the root cause of your discomfort.
Our team is committed to guiding you to a life free from elbow pain. Contact us today and embark on your journey to elbow pain relief!
Common Causes for Elbow Pain
If you’re grappling with elbow pain, understanding the common causes can be instrumental in finding the right treatment. Here, we outline several potential culprits and how a physical therapist might help manage these conditions.
- Elbow Sprain / Strain: Sprains occur when a ligament is overstretched or torn. In contrast, a strain is the same type of injury but involves a muscle or tendon. Activities that overstretch tissues can cause tears, leading to swelling, pain, and restricted movement.
- Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Sprain: This condition results from overstretched or torn ligaments on the elbow’s inner side, often due to a throwing motion. For instance, in professional baseball, UCL injuries account for 10% of all reported issues.
- Little Leaguer’s Elbow: Common among adolescent baseball or softball players, this overuse injury causes inflammation in the elbow’s inner growth plate. Untreated cases may lead to an avulsion fracture, where a small bone piece attached to a tendon or ligament detaches from the main bone.
- Tendinopathy: This general term refers to problems with tendons, including disease, injury, or disorder. Two main forms of tendinopathy are tendonitis (tendon inflammation, often healing quickly) and tendinosis (a dysfunctional tendon often arising from overuse and typically slow to heal).
- Tennis Elbow: This condition can manifest as tendonitis or tendinosis. Activities like holding a tennis racket, paintbrush, or hammer often trigger tennis elbow, causing severe pain when gripping, lifting, or twisting the forearm.
- Golfer’s Elbow: Similar to tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow is characterized by pain on the elbow’s inside. It’s generally caused by overuse of the muscles that flex your wrist and fingers.
Our physical therapists have the skills and knowledge to help restore function after these elbow conditions. With a personalized treatment plan, you can begin the journey to recovery and regain your active lifestyle.
Call today to schedule your appointment!
Physical Therapy Solutions to Elbow Pain
Welcome to a world of renewed vigor and restored mobility with our advanced physical therapy solutions. Our highly trained physical therapists conduct comprehensive evaluations to personalize a treatment plan that caters to your unique needs, promoting a swift and effective recovery.
Before any treatment commences, our physical therapists delve into your medical history. This comprehensive review enables us to understand prior injuries, surgeries, chronic conditions, or lifestyle factors that may influence your treatment plan.
A fundamental aspect of our assessments involves assessing movement, including your range of motion and strength. Recognizing that many elbow issues can stem from dysfunctions in the shoulder or wrist, leading to overuse at the elbow, we conduct scientifically validated tests. These evaluations gauge flexibility, mobility, and muscle power in the impacted region. The insights we gather not only inform our treatment plan but also allow us to monitor your progress throughout the therapy journey.
Further, we perform specialized functional testing. This involves carrying out specific tasks or exercises that mimic your daily activities or sports, helping us understand how your current condition affects your regular functions.
When it comes to elbow pain, our physical therapists employ a range of treatments. These include:
- Manual Therapy: We use our hands to mobilize your joints, stretch your muscles, and improve your range of motion. This hands-on approach is designed to relieve pain and promote better movement.
- Therapeutic Exercises: These exercises, tailored to your individual needs, aim to strengthen the muscles around your elbow, enhance flexibility, and improve overall functionality.
- Ultrasound Therapy: This method uses sound waves to target deep tissues, accelerating healing by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation.
- Graston Technique: This form of manual therapy utilizes specialized stainless steel instruments to detect and treat scar tissue and fascial restrictions, promoting optimal range of motion and pain relief.
It’s essential to note that the effectiveness of these treatments can vary depending on the individual’s condition, severity, and overall health status. Therefore, a personalized treatment plan a physical therapist develops is vital for the best outcomes.
Contact us today, and let us guide you to the path of recovery!