Experiencing Elbow Pain?
How Can Physiotherapy Treat Elbow Pain?
Physiotherapy can play an important role in treating and managing elbow injuries. When injury or dysfunction occur at the joint, this can severely hinder physical activities, as well as activities of daily living. The objective is to help patients restore strength, function, and range of motion that will help them make a safe return to their desired activities.
Examples of Elbow Conditions That Physiotherapy Can Help Treat:
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Condition caused by overuse or strain of the tendons in the forearm, leading to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow.
- Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis): Golfer's elbow is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation on the inside of the elbow, caused by overuse or strain of the forearm tendons.
- Elbow Fractures: Elbow fractures involve breaks in the bones of the elbow joint, often resulting from trauma or injury, and can cause pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
- Olecranon Bursitis: Olecranon bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa at the tip of the elbow, causing swelling, pain, and limited movement, often due to repetitive pressure or injury.
- Elbow Dislocation: Elbow dislocation occurs when the bones of the elbow joint are displaced, causing severe pain, swelling, and a loss of normal arm function.
- Elbow Sprains and Strains: Elbow sprains and strains involve damage to the ligaments or muscles/tendons around the elbow, causing pain, swelling, and limited movement due to overuse or injury.
Physiotherapists start by conducting an assessment to identify possible sources of elbow pain. Once causes are determined, an appropriate treatment plan can be created. Physiotherapy methods encompass hands on therapy as well as personalized exercises aimed to enhance and restore strength, function, and range of motion. Another important part of physiotherapy for elbow injuries is teaching patients about their injury. This includes explaining how the injury happened, how to prevent it from happening again, how to use their body mechanics, and how to change activities to avoid pain.