Elbow Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

If you suffer from elbow pain lasting longer than seven days, you might have a condition called golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow. Despite their names, athletes aren’t the only people who develop these conditions. They are also common among construction workers, office employees, and anyone performing repeated arm motions. The risk increases with age, particularly after fifty, when we are more prone to elbow pain and limited mobility.

Our forearms, wrists, and hands perform thousands of movements every day. Repeating the same motions for two hours or more daily, over months or years, can lead to tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. These conditions affect the muscles and tendons surrounding the elbow. Sometimes, irritation of the radial nerve, which runs from the neck to the hand, may also cause pain. Recurring micro-injuries accumulate over time, resulting in chronic inflammation, abnormal tissue healing, and degenerative disease at the muscle attachments. Symptoms often include pain in the elbow, wrist, and hand.

Causes of Elbow Pain

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is an overuse injury caused by repeated contraction of the forearm muscles used to straighten and raise the wrist and hand. Tiny tears in the tendons attaching these muscles to the outer elbow can result in pain in the elbow, wrist, or hand. Sports like tennis, badminton, squash, ping pong, or rowing may trigger this condition, especially with poor technique. Non-sport activities – using plumbing tools, painting, driving screws, or repetitive computer mouse use – can also cause tennis elbow, sometimes compressing the radial nerve.

Golfer’s Elbow

Golfer’s elbow is similar but affects the wrist flexors on the inner elbow. It can result from repeated work movements in construction, plumbing, or carpentry, or from sports like weightlifting, baseball, softball, archery, or javelin throwing. Pain is often felt during internal rotation of the forearm, wrist, and finger bending, or handshakes.

Symptoms of Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow

• • Pain at the outer elbow (tennis elbow) or inner elbow (golfer’s elbow)
  • Wrist and hand discomfort
  • Pain during repetitive tasks or gripping
  • Weakness in forearm muscles

Treatment Options for Elbow Pain

Treatment starts with avoiding activities that cause pain, taking breaks from sports, and facilitating arm use at work. Cold compresses, anti-inflammatory medications, and braces can help relieve discomfort. If symptoms persist beyond a week, seeing a physical therapist specializing in elbow problems is recommended.

One of our specialists, Kris Krasowski, PT, explains: “The first step in rehabilitation is a correct diagnosis. Imaging is often unnecessary; an hour-long evaluation allows us to determine the disorder’s origin and implement a personalized solution. In our experience, Fascial Counterstrain manual therapy and the Graston technique, combined with therapeutic modalities and exercises, are the most effective. Ultrasound, therapeutic laser, Kinesio taping, and proper workouts complement these advanced techniques. Self-treatment can be harmful if done incorrectly. One patient who attempted home therapy for years of elbow strain ended up with severe injury, requiring three months of professional therapy to recover.”

Early intervention is crucial. Minor elbow pain should never be ignored, as professional physical therapy may prevent long-term complications and reduce recovery time.