Remember the last time you accidentally hit your funny bone? That sharp, radiating pain is deeply unpleasant—but fortunately, it usually fades within moments. But what happens when elbow or wrist pain lingers, like with tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow? If you’re experiencing discomfort in your elbow, forearm, or wrist, G3 Physical Therapy is here to help!
Wrist and elbow pain can stem from several potential causes. Three major nerves run through the arm and can become compressed, leading to numbness, tingling, or pain. Overuse can also injure the muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the elbow and wrist joints, causing mobility restrictions and discomfort in the affected area.
Our team of physical therapists will help you identify the root of your elbow or wrist pain—and we’ll create a plan to resolve it for good. Call us today to schedule an appointment and get started!
A Closer Look at the Causes of Wrist and Elbow Pain
When you visit us, we’ll begin by reviewing your symptoms and conducting simple movement screens to pinpoint the source of your pain.
Overuse Injuries: These are among the most common causes of wrist and elbow pain. You’ve likely heard of tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow—both classic examples of overuse injuries. They result from repetitive motions or awkward postures that strain the joint’s soft tissues, leading to a gradual onset of symptoms. While these conditions are named after sports, they’re increasingly common among people who spend long hours on computers, phones, or other devices. Professions like hairdressing can also contribute to elbow pain due to repetitive strain.
Acute Injuries: Unlike overuse injuries, acute injuries occur suddenly—often from falls during activities like snowboarding, biking, or even tripping. Wrist sprains, where the ligaments are overstretched or torn, are particularly common. Fractures in the wrist or elbow bones are also possible and typically require medical attention.
Nerve Disorders: These occur when one of the arm’s nerves becomes compressed, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or restricted mobility. The location of your symptoms can indicate which nerve is affected:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This involves the median nerve, which can get trapped in the carpal tunnel of the wrist, leading to symptoms in the wrist and hand.
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: This affects the ulnar nerve, which passes through the cubital tunnel in the elbow. Compression here can cause symptoms in the elbow and hand.
Arthritis: This condition can also affect the elbows and wrists, resulting in pain and limited range of motion.
How Physical Therapy Can Ease Your Wrist and Elbow Pain
Once we’ve identified the source of your pain, we’ll design a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief. The good news? Physical therapy alone can resolve most common causes of wrist and elbow pain. Here are some techniques we might use:
- Whole-Body Approach: Tightness or restrictions in the neck, shoulder, and upper back—such as in the trapezius, pectoralis, or scapular muscles (like the teres)—can place extra stress on the elbow. Releasing these areas can improve nerve mobility and reduce discomfort downstream. Check out our March article to see the shoulder mobility techniques that can elbow pain.
- Manual Therapy: Techniques like joint mobilization, soft tissue manipulation, or guided range-of-motion exercises can reduce pain and restore mobility. Check out our integrated wrist-elbow-scapular joint mobility and stretch combo photo. ST_Cage.jpg
- Therapeutic Exercises: We’ll develop a progressive exercise program starting with gentle stretches and mobility work, then advancing to strengthening exercises to stabilize and support the affected joint.
- Laser: Laser can be effective for lingering symptoms by managing inflammation and speed the recovery ot tendonitis and tendonosis.
- Braces and Splints: For some conditions, a brace or splint can immobilize the joint temporarily during treatment. We’ll advise you if this is appropriate and help you choose the right device.
- Injury Prevention: We’ll teach you strategies to avoid future issues, such as ergonomic adjustments for repetitive tasks, postural corrections to reduce strain, or other practical tips.
Let’s Get to the Root of Your Wrist or Elbow Pain!
Pain in your wrist or elbow can disrupt your quality of life, making everyday tasks—like brushing your teeth, typing, or cooking—a challenge. Before resigning yourself to living with pain or considering surgery, let our team at G3 Physical Therapy help. We’ll uncover the cause of your discomfort and guide you toward lasting relief.
Call us today to schedule your initial appointment!