When considering joint health, there are several standouts that come to mind first, namely the shoulders, knees, and neck. One joint that is integral to a person’s functional ability, which is quite often overlooked, is the condition of your elbow health. The elbow is one of those things that tend to be taken for granted in the role it plays. From lifting a glass of water to the mouth, to being able to drive a car. Until you begin to notice elbow pain and it impacts your daily function.
What are Common Elbow Pains?
When it comes to elbow pain, there are different types that a person may feel often arising from repetitive motions, also called an “overuse injury”. Commonly, people struggle with tendinitis pain (i.e. golfers or tennis elbow, see our previous blog about these conditions if you would like more information). Though one more overlooked diagnosis is a nerve compression occurring at the elbow. This type of compression, typically of the ulnar nerve in the arm, can occur from repetitive motions. Think factory worker or mail sorting, or from actually compressing the elbow joint throughout the day. Think of working in an office with your elbows resting on the arm of your chair for hours each day.
Nerve compression pain can come on suddenly and disappear just as quickly throughout the day. People often referred to it as a “shock” from the elbow, possibly all the way down to the fingers. One might also experience nerve pain as different sensations. Including heat, cold, tingling, numbness, burning, and pins, and needles.
Did you know that strengthening your shoulders can improve your elbows? Click here to listen to this video.
How Do You Prevent Elbow Pain?
Elbow pain can be treatable and preventable. If you are suffering from elbow pain, just know that you don’t have to. There are several exercises, stretches, and adjustments that can be made to improve or even alleviate these types of symptoms. Foremost, getting in to see your physical therapist create a custom exercise program and hands-on treatment to treat the cause of your elbow pain or elbow nerve compression. If you are looking for immediate options for some relief before you have a chance to get to physical therapy. I encourage you to visit our technique videos on elbow stretches. As well as strengthening techniques to prevent such injuries from exacerbating or recurring in the future.
Now, if you have any further questions about how to avoid an overuse injury, or if you think that these statements relate to something that you are experiencing, please contact our office to speak to a therapist. And if you’d like more information on how physical therapy could benefit you, check out our free report where we go over the 47 most FAQs about Physical Therapy:
After graduating from NAU, Jessica spent some time personal training, where she gained a passion for helping clients with previous injuries reach their fitness goals to allow them to live the life they dreamed. This sparked her interest in returning to school for physical therapist assisting, where she gained more knowledge in how to help people recover from pain, stiffness, or surgeries so they could get back to doing the things they loved. Jessica now brings her passion and knowledge together to help people return to greater freedom in their daily lives and activities with less pain, more mobility, and independence.
In her spare time, Jessica likes to delve into good movies, books, and spend time with her husband and their dog going on walks and hikes.
- How To Reduce Outer Elbow Pain // Tennis Elbow - September 24, 2020
- How Do You Prevent Elbow Pain? - September 21, 2020
- Chair Yoga Poses To Help With Low Back Pain - June 9, 2020
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