Physiotherapy for Elbow Pain: Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow

Elbow pain can impact your daily life, making everyday tasks like lifting, carrying, and even turning a doorknob difficult and painful. There are two common conditions, tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, which often plague athletes and individuals with repetitive hand motions. This guide delves into the causes, symptoms, and potential physiotherapy exercises to address these conditions.

Understanding Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow

While their names might suggest they’re exclusive to athletes, tennis elbow[1] and golfer’s elbow[2] can affect anyone who performs repetitive hand and arm movements. Let’s explore these conditions in more detail:

• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): This condition involves inflammation or damage to the tendons that join the forearm muscles to the outer bony bump of the elbow. These muscles and tendons are responsible for extending your wrist and fingers.
• Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis): Golfer’s elbow, on the other hand, affects the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the inner bony bump of the elbow. These muscles and tendons are responsible for flexing your wrist and fingers.

Both conditions often arise from overuse, repetitive strain, or improper technique during sports, gardening, typing, or using hand tools. Muscle imbalances[3] and inadequate body conditioning can also contribute to elbow pain.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Elbow Pain

Recognising the signs of tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow is helpful for early intervention and proper management. Both conditions share some common symptoms, but there are key differences in the location of pain:

• Tennis Elbow: Pain is typically felt on the outside of the elbow, radiating down the forearm towards the wrist. Gripping objects, lifting, or straightening your wrist may aggravate the pain.
• Golfer’s Elbow: Pain is primarily felt on the inside of the elbow, sometimes extending along the inner side of the forearm. Bending your wrist, making a fist, or gripping objects can worsen the pain.

In addition to pain, you may experience tenderness to the touch, stiffness in the elbow joint, and weakness in your grip.

This is where physiotherapy practitioners may be of help: to identify these conditions through a physical examination. It may involve assessing your range of motion, muscle strength, and specific movements that elicit pain. They may also inquire about your daily activities, occupation, and any relevant medical history to understand the underlying causes.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Elbow Pain

Physiotherapy plays a potential role in managing elbow pain. When you visit a physiotherapy clinic in Singapore, they may recommend the following treatment plans based on your needs:

• Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques of elbow physiotherapy in Singapore, such as soft tissue and joint mobilisation, may help reduce pain, improve flexibility, and improve joint mechanics.
• Exercise Therapy: Targeted exercises are recommended for strengthening weakened muscles, improving flexibility, and restoring optimal movement patterns. Your physiotherapist will guide you through specific sports injury physiotherapy to address your needs and goals.
• Electrotherapy: Modalities like ultrasound, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), and shockwave therapy combined with dry-needling treatment may help reduce pain and inflammation, promote healing, and improve muscle function.
• Activity Modification and Ergonomic Advice: Your physiotherapist will advise you on modifying activities that may exacerbate your pain and provide ergonomic recommendations to minimise strain on your elbow during daily tasks and work.