Understanding Elbow Pain: Common Causes and How Physiotherapy Helps

Elbow pain is a common issue that can result from several causes, including elbow joint pain, repetitive strain, or injuries to surrounding structures like the shoulder or spine. It often doesn't subside without identifying the root cause, which can range from neural, myofascial, or joint-related dysfunctions.

Physiotherapy offers significant relief for elbow pain by addressing both the symptoms and the underlying causes. A physiotherapist will assess muscle strength, joint movement, and grip strength, and may perform additional tests to check for related issues in the shoulder, wrist, or spine. Based on the diagnosis, treatment typically includes elbow pain exercises, manual therapy, and lifestyle adjustments to promote healing and improve mobility.

What is Elbow Pain?

Elbow pain is a common condition caused by trauma, repetitive strain, or poor posture. It can affect your ability to perform everyday activities like reaching, gripping, lifting, or loading the arms. Some common conditions leading to elbow pain include tendonitis, arthritis, and bursitis.

• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): One of the most frequent causes of elbow pain is tendonitis, also known as tennis elbow. This occurs due to repetitive stress or overuse of the elbow joint. The pain is typically felt on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow and may radiate down the back of the forearm. This pain often intensifies when straightening or fully extending the arm.
• Arthritis and Bursitis: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause elbow joint pain, typically after a previous injury or due to ageing. Additionally, olecranon bursitis, a condition where the bursa at the back of the elbow becomes inflamed, can lead to swelling and discomfort.

Elbow pain should always be assessed by a medical professional, physiotherapist, or physician, especially if the pain persists for more than two to three weeks without improvement.

Types of Elbow Pain

Elbow pain can occur in different areas of the joint, each with its own causes and symptoms:

• Inner Elbow Pain: Often caused by golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), this pain is felt on the inside of the elbow and can worsen with activities that involve gripping or bending the arm.
• Outer Elbow Pain: Commonly associated with tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), pain on the outer elbow is typically caused by overuse or repetitive strain of the tendons in the forearm.
• Tendon Pain: Elbow tendon pain is frequently linked to tendinopathy, where the tendons become inflamed or injured due to repetitive motion. This can occur at the elbow's extensor tendons (tennis elbow) or flexor tendons (golfer’s elbow).

Symptoms of Elbow Pain

Elbow pain can vary depending on the underlying cause. Some common symptoms include:

• Pain and Tenderness: You may feel pain around the elbow, especially when bending or straightening your arm. This pain can be a sign of elbow joint pain or tennis elbow.
• Swelling: Swelling is often present, particularly in conditions like bursitis or arthritis. This swelling might occur at the back of the elbow or around the joint.
• Weakness: If you find it hard to grip objects or experience weakness in your arm, this could be due to elbow tendon pain or conditions like golfer’s elbow.
• Stiffness: A reduced range of motion, often accompanied by a feeling of tightness, is common. This can happen with elbow pain from overuse or tennis elbow.
• Popping or Clicking: Some people hear or feel a popping or clicking sound when moving the elbow, which can indicate tendon or joint issues.
• Numbness or Tingling: You might also experience tingling or numbness in the elbow, forearm, or fingers, which could be related to nerve compression or irritation.

What Causes Elbow Pain?

Elbow pain can arise from various conditions, including ligament strains, fractures, and overuse. Some of the major causes include:

• Elbow Pain from Ligament Sprains: When the elbow absorbs sudden forces, like during a fall, or from repetitive straining movements, one or more ligaments may become injured. This leads to inflammation, irritation, and elbow joint pain around the elbow. Elbow pain when bending and straightening can occur if the ligament sprains affect the range of motion.
• Elbow Pain due to Arthritis: Osteoarthritis of the elbow typically occurs after a traumatic injury (such as a fracture) or as a result of ageing (over 60 years old), often due to overuse. Rheumatoid arthritis can also be isolated to the elbow or affect multiple joints, contributing to persistent elbow pain. Elbow pain when bending and straightening is common in arthritis, especially when there’s joint stiffness.
• Elbow Pain due to Bursitis: Repetitive strain or direct pressure on the elbow, particularly at the back of the elbow, can lead to olecranon bursitis. This condition often causes a noticeable pocket of swelling and pain at the back of the elbow. It can lead to elbow pain when bending and straightening, especially when the bursitis worsens.
• Elbow Pain from Muscle Strain or Tendinopathy: Several muscle groups cross the elbow joint, and overuse can lead to muscle strain or tendon damage. The most common form of elbow tendon pain is tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), which affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) also results from overuse and affects the inside of the elbow. Both conditions often cause pain when bending and straightening the arm due to irritation in the tendons.

Why Physiotherapy is Essential for Elbow Pain Relief

Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in managing elbow pain and promoting long-term recovery. Here's how physiotherapy helps:

• Comprehensive Assessment: Physiotherapists begin with a thorough evaluation of the elbow joint pain to identify the root causes, such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, ligament sprains, or tendon injuries. They also check for related co-morbidities that might contribute to the pain.
• Personalised Treatment: Physiotherapists create a tailored treatment plan that addresses specific injuries. The plan is designed to relieve pain, improve joint mobility, and prevent future injury.
• Expert Knowledge: With a deep understanding of elbow joint anatomy, physiotherapists are well-equipped to treat both acute and chronic elbow pain, ensuring the right approach for long-term healing.
• Effective for Various Conditions: Whether it’s elbow tendon pain, golfer's elbow, or other types of elbow joint pain, physiotherapy is a safe and effective solution to reduce pain and enhance recovery.

How Physiotherapy Can Help Treat Elbow Pain: Techniques

Physiotherapists start by using X-rays or MRI scans to locate the source of elbow pain and perform an objective examination. These diagnostic tools help identify the severity and exact location of the injury, allowing physiotherapists to tailor their treatment approach.

Once the diagnosis is made, physiotherapists use various therapeutic modalities to relieve elbow pain, such as:

Shockwave Therapy and Dry Needling for Elbow Pain 

Physiotherapists often use shockwave therapy to treat chronic elbow pain, especially for conditions like tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. This non-invasive treatment sends high-energy sound waves to the painful area, stimulating blood flow and promoting tissue repair. Additionally, dry needling targets tight muscles and tendons, helping to release tension and reduce pain.

Manual Therapy for Restoring Range of Motion in the Elbow

To improve joint movement and reduce stiffness, manual therapy is used. This hands-on technique involves mobilising the elbow joint and surrounding muscles to improve flexibility and range of motion. It helps restore proper function, especially if the elbow pain has resulted in limited movement due to inflammation or injury.

Exercise Programs for Elbow Joint Pain

Based on the severity and location of the pain, physiotherapists develop personalised exercise programs. These programs often include strengthening, flexibility, and motor control exercises to target the elbow muscles and tendons, reducing pain and preventing further injuries.

Soft Tissue Release and Massage Therapy

Soft tissue release techniques, such as deep tissue massage, are often integrated into treatment plans to relieve muscle tightness and improve circulation. This is especially important for addressing muscle strain or tendinopathy associated with elbow pain.

Lifestyle Modifications and Posture Re-education

Posture re-education and lifestyle modifications are essential for preventing future elbow pain. Physiotherapists provide guidance on adjusting daily habits and ergonomics, particularly for individuals with desk jobs or athletes who repeatedly use their arms.

Bracing and Taping for Support

In some cases, bracing or taping is recommended to support the elbow joint and reduce strain on injured tendons, helping to manage pain during the healing process.

What are the Best Exercises to Recover from Elbow Pain?

When recovering from elbow pain, it’s essential to focus on exercises that both stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons around the elbow. These exercises can improve flexibility, reduce stiffness, and prevent further injury. Below are some of the most effective exercises to aid in recovery:

Stretching Exercises for Elbow Pain Relief

Stretching is key to increasing flexibility and reducing tension around the elbow joint. The following exercises are ideal for relieving elbow pain and improving mobility:

• Wrist Turn: With your elbow bent at a right angle and your palm facing up, slowly twist your wrist until your palm faces down. Hold for 5 seconds, then repeat 10 times. This helps to stretch the forearm muscles and improve flexibility, easing elbow tendon pain.
• Towel Twist: Next, hold a rolled-up towel lengthwise with one hand at each end. With your shoulders relaxed, twist the towel by moving your hands in opposite directions, as if wringing out water. Repeat 10 times in each direction. This exercise stretches the elbow joint and forearm muscles, helping to alleviate pain and stiffness.

After performing these stretches, the next step is to focus on strengthening the muscles around the elbow to help prevent further injury and improve long-term recovery.

Strengthening Exercises to Prevent Elbow Injury

 Strengthening the muscles around the elbow is crucial for long-term elbow pain relief and injury prevention. These exercises target the forearm muscles and tendons to ensure better support for the elbow joint, especially for those suffering from tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow:

• Wrist Curls: Using a light dumbbell, support your forearm on a flat surface with your wrist hanging off the edge. Curl the wrist upwards and lower it slowly, both palm-up and palm-down. Perform 15 repetitions in each direction, 3 times a day. This helps build strength in the forearm tendons and can help prevent elbow tendon pain.
• Fist Squeeze: Hold a tennis ball or rolled towel in your hand and squeeze it as hard as you can for 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times. This exercise strengthens the grip muscles and forearm tendons, which helps prevent injuries like tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.

By incorporating these stretching and strengthening exercises into your daily routine, you can help alleviate elbow pain and prevent future injuries. It’s important to perform these exercises within a pain-free range of motion and stop if pain increases.

How to Relieve Elbow Joint Pain at Home 

Managing elbow joint pain at home starts with simple and consistent care routines that reduce inflammation and promote healing.

• Rest the affected arm and avoid activities that aggravate elbow pain when bending and straightening.
• Apply ice packs for 15–20 minutes, several times daily, to manage pain and swelling in the elbow.
• Use a compression band or elbow brace to support the joint and reduce strain on injured tendons.
• Elevate your arm on a pillow when sitting or sleeping to reduce fluid build-up.
• Take over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen for temporary relief.
• Perform gentle elbow pain exercises (like wrist turns, towel twists, or fist squeezes) once acute pain subsides to improve flexibility and prevent stiffness.

These steps are useful for managing mild elbow tendon pain and elbow muscle pain, but if discomfort continues, professional evaluation is essential.

When to See a Specialist for Elbow Pain Treatment

You should see a specialist if your elbow pain does not improve with rest, ice, or basic home care. A physiotherapist can find the real elbow pain causes and suggest the right elbow pain treatment for faster recovery.

Warning Signs That Need Specialist Attention

• Elbow pain when bending and straightening that doesn’t get better after a few days.
• Ongoing pain and swelling in the elbow, even after using ice or a brace.
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand or fingers.
• Sharp or throbbing pain after lifting, falling, or sports activities.
• Trouble moving your arm or doing daily tasks due to stiffness or weakness.

If these signs don’t go away, get help early. At PhysioTattva, our physiotherapists treat all kinds of elbow pain, including inner elbow pain, outer elbow pain, and elbow tendon pain. With the right elbow pain treatment and simple elbow pain exercises, we help you reduce pain, improve movement, and get back to your routine safely.

How PhysioTattva Can Help Relieve Elbow Pain

Elbow pain, whether stemming from overuse injuries like tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, or conditions such as arthritis and bursitis, can significantly impact daily activities. However, with the right approach, recovery is not only possible but also sustainable.

At PhysioTattva, we specialise in providing personalised physiotherapy treatments that address the root causes of elbow pain. Our comprehensive care includes:

• Detailed Assessment: Thorough evaluation to identify the specific cause of elbow pain.
• Targeted Therapies: Utilisation of techniques such as shockwave therapy, dry needling, and manual therapy to alleviate pain and promote healing.
• Exercise Programs: Customised stretching and strengthening exercises to restore function and prevent future injuries.
• Lifestyle Guidance: Advice on posture correction and ergonomic adjustments to support long-term recovery.

At Physiotattva physiotherapy clinics in Bangalore and Hyderabad, you receive personalised care tailored to your specific needs, ensuring effective results and comfort throughout your journey to recovery. 

Don’t wait to start your recovery! Get in touch with Physiotattva for more details! Contact us at +91 89510 47001.

FAQs

How to treat elbow pain at home?

Icing is the first step after the injury to reduce swelling. Taking over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers such as ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) helps to reduce the pain. Wearing an elbow brace, especially during aggravating activity, is also advised.

How long does it take to recover from elbow pain?

Depending on the cause, severity and duration of the injury, the treatment can range up to a few weeks. A regular exercise program with proper rest is essential to make the healing process faster.

How effective is physiotherapy for elbow pain?

Physiotherapy is highly effective for treating elbow joint pain and other conditions like tennis elbow or golfer's elbow. Through manual therapy, exercise programs, and stretching, physiotherapists help reduce pain, improve strength, and prevent future injuries.

When will physical therapy not be appropriate?

Physical therapy is usually the most appropriate treatment, but it may not be appropriate if the injury was caused by severe trauma that needs further investigation, which may require surgery if appropriate.