East Toronto Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic and Trilogy Physiotherapy have partnered in order to provide you with the experienced and skilled care you deserve.
Elbow pain can be caused by a variety of reasons including due a traumatic injury, but most often it is caused by repetitive overuse of the muscles surrounding the elbow.
Common causes of elbow pain include:
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
This is an overuse injury that causes pain and inflammation of the tendons that attach to the outer bony prominence (lateral epicondyle) of the elbow.
The pain may extend into the forearm muscles and is usually aggravated when grasping or holding an object even as light as a cup of coffee. Any repetitive motion of the wrist such as hedge trimming, using a hammer or screwdriver, painting, or any activity that requires constant gripping or squeezing can cause tennis elbow. It can occur in anyone who strains the lateral elbow through overuse.
Small or large tears can be present in the extensor muscles of the wrist. Chronic elbow pain can develop with epicondylopathy or enthesopathy, a pathological state of the muscle tendons, especially at the point of their attachment to bone tissue.
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow)
This is a condition that causes pain where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of your elbow.
The pain might spread into your forearm and wrist, much like tennis elbow. This is also typically an overuse injury to the muscles and tendons. Similar activities as described for tennis elbow aggravate the pain, but with some differences. Athletes who throw can get golfer’s elbow due improper technique. There may also be numbness or tingling in the ring finger and pinky finger.
Ulnar Nerve Compression
The ulnar nerve passes through a boney groove along the inside of the elbow.
The nerve can cause pain, and at times, numbness along the inside of the forearm to the pinky and ring finger when irritated or inflamed. This can occur if someone hits their elbow sharply or leans on the elbow in a position that puts pressure on the nerve.
Physiotherapy Treatment
Management of the above conditions has been proven to be helpful in relieving pain, speed up recovery and rehabilitate chronic issues in the elbow.
Treatment involves education, self-care management, exercise therapy, and manual therapy are commonly used by a registered physiotherapist to treat elbow pain. Other treatments such as acupuncture, soft tissue release and massage therapy can also help. Bracing of the elbow can also be helpful for lateral and medial epicondylar issues. A registered physiotherapist can conduct a assessment and examination of your issue and recommend the appropriate treatment.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Elbow Pain
How do you assess elbow pain?
An assessment of your elbow pain starts with a conversation between you and your therapist to determine when and how the elbow pain started, what type of pain it is, the severity and factors that worsen or improve the pain. Next, your therapist will perform a physical examinination, which may involve looking at your elbow's range of movement, strength, stability, and/or performing specific tests to examine different muscles, tendons, or nerves around the elbow. Using the results of both the conversation and the physical examination, your therapist will design a treatment plan to address your specific pain and the factors that led to it.
Is elbow pain therapy painful?
During the treatment of elbow pain, there may be some exercises and manual therapy techniques that are uncomfortable. This is normal and your feedback is an important part of tailoring the treatment protocol to you. This means that while some discomfort may occur, the exercises and manual therapy techniques employed will be modified based on your feedback so that they keep you on track to see week over week improvements in pain and function.
How long does therapy take for elbow pain?
Therapy for elbow pain depends on many factors, including the specific injury, how long you have been experiencing it, and the ability to modify or stop painful activities as part of your recovery. During your assessment, your therapist will explain the injury to you and will give you a rough estimate as to how long the therapy will take.
When should you see a therapist for elbow pain?
"While there are many types of elbow pain, some of which can naturally go away on their own, there are some definite times that you should see a therapist for your elbow pain.
If your pain is the result of a traumatic incident (for example, a fall or your arm or elbow being hit or a sudden pain when lifting or throwing), it is a good idea to see a therapist to have your pain evaluated to rule out the need for X-rays or surgery.
For elbow pain that has started with no specific cause, you should see a therapist if it is not improving and is interfering with your normal daily activities or work. Your therapist will work with you to help get you back to your activity as soon as possible."
Is heat or cold better for elbow tendonitis?
For sudden onset elbow tendonitis, use of cold for the first 3-5 days is ideal. This is because it helps limit the swelling and inflammation in the area, which can contribute to pain. Ice can also be used after the first 5 days for pain relief. However, after the first 5 days of a sudden onset tendonitis, or for tendinopathies that have been painful over a longer period, heat may be better. This is because the heat increases circulation to the elbow, which aids in healing and also decreases the tightness and guarding of muscles at the elbow. Despite these guidelines, more and more research is showing that when it comes down to heat vs cold, the best to use is the one that feels the best to you.
Does a compression sleeve help tennis elbow?
A compression sleeve can help with the pain with tennis elbow. It does this by reducing the amount of swelling and inflammation at the site of the pain. In addition, it promotes better circulation, which can aid in the healing process. Another benefit is that compression can feel comforting and supportive, which can help improve how you feel about your elbow and enhance your healing.
What are some ways to prevent elbow pain?
Elbow pain can be prevented through a few simple steps. First, it is important to keep healthy and active, including some form of resistance training 2-3 times per week. This helps ensure that the muscles around your elbow are strong and resilient. Next, when doing activities that are intense or repetitive that involve the elbow, it is good to do a warm up. Care should be taken when performing repetitive tasks so that you vary how you perform the task, take plenty of rest breaks, and do not do too much too soon. Finally, it is important to perform some self care, such as stretching, self-massage, or soft tissue release, especially after new or repetitive tasks, to help your body recover.
Bryce Lee
13 September 2023
Adam was super. Always positive and very encouraging thru my rehab.
Marcello Sapienza
10 August 2023
Excellent service . I highly recommend this clinic. Teresa the receptionist is very helpful and nice . Adam is a knowledgeable physiotherapist. And Fatima is a very good acupuncturist .
Samantha Duncan
25 July 2023
Excellent experience with Adam - thorough and very personable.
Kristin Patterson
26 June 2023
Marshall was very helpful and professional and worked with me on a very painful knee injury. i began a few months ago barely able to bend it or walk up and down stairs and have improved greatly with his program. i am now able to run up and downstairs with no problems and am almost back to 100%. the receptionists are also accommodating and professional and were easily able to process insurance claims, answer questions, and reschedule appts when i was sick or something came up. i was very impressed by my experience here and would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a new physio!
Adriano Trapani
13 June 2023
Great experience. I had foot pain that wouldn’t go away so I came here and found so much assistance in regaining my mobility.
Kartik Uppal
8 June 2023
Went to the Pape and Danforth clinic for a massage with Robert. Customer service from initial onset was with Therese. Was very patient with me when it came to form filling and billing. Robert was also extremely good at working on my pain points and being thorough with his explanations. Overall great massage, experience and education!
AD
26 March 2023
Everyone at this clinic is very kind and professional- Would recommend!
Efficient Sense
7 January 2023
Trevor is great! He has guided me on my road to recovery. Staff is also friendly and knowledgeable. Nachi is also great!
Lucy Barron
5 December 2022
I would highly recommend the services of Trevor - he provided excellent care. I received a thorough assessment and a clear treatment plan. Trevor is knowledgeable, friendly and is a good communicator. The office is well-equipped and Mina at the front desk was always very welcoming.
Sabrina Oliver
15 November 2022
I have seen Trevor for several different problems over the years and he has always done an amazing job helping me with my recovery. He is knowledgeable in many areas and always happy to answer questions and explain what he is doing. He is thorough with assessment and treatment so you always feel like you are in good hands. He is also very honest and won't push you to keep coming if he doesn't feel you need it. Mina at the front desk is really welcoming and the clinic is very clean and comfortable. Overall a great physio experience and would highly recommend to anyone!
