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Elbow Pain

Symptoms:

Renew_Physical_Therapy_PDX_Elbow PainElbow pain, dull or sharp; Stiffness or difficulty moving arm; Swelling; Upper arm or forearm muscle soreness; Elbow joint painless or painful noise (crepitus) with arm movement; Elbow and/or arm pain with neck movement; Weakness; Numbness/Tingling in arm/hand.

Causes:

Elbow pain commonly occurs from physical injury such as a throwing injury or fall, repetitive overuse such as in racquet sports or computer work, or sudden onset from sleeping awkwardly or no particular cause.  In the cases of gradual pain onset, frequently the presence of a mobility issue or muscle imbalance predisposed the individual to developing the elbow pain.  Elbow pain can derive from the elbow joint itself, muscle or tendon, or bursa.  In some cases, one may experience referred pain into the elbow and/or arm from a cervical spine or upper thoracic spine condition.

Related Conditions:

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow); Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow); Osteoarthritis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Olecranon bursitis; Cubital tunnel syndrome; Pronator teres syndrome; Radial tunnel syndrome; Cervical radiculopathy.

How Renew Physical Therapy Can Help:

A thorough subjective evaluation and biomechanical examination will be completed at the time of each patient’s initial appointment, which is essential in establishing the root cause of the patient’s symptoms and designing an appropriate individualized treatment program addressing this root cause.  We will utilize therapeutic modalities, ie. cold/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. We will also use specialized massage and mobilization/manipulation techniques, as well as therapeutic stretching/strengthening exercises to restore pain-free function. Patient education is paramount in eliminating and preventing the return of symptoms, which will include an individualized home self-mobilization and exercise program as well as behavioral modification strategies.