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Elbow pain can be a distressing and limiting condition that can significantly impact your daily life. Do you find it difficult to lift objects or perform simple tasks due to elbow pain? Are you struggling to participate in sports or activities you enjoy? Do you experience a sharp or dull pain in your elbow when gripping or bending your arm?
These are all common symptoms of elbow pain, which can be caused by a range of factors, including overuse, injury, arthritis, or nerve compression. Whatever the cause, the pain can be frustrating and may affect your ability to perform simple tasks or participate in activities you enjoy.
Fortunately, physiotherapy can be an effective and non-invasive treatment option for elbow pain. At Benchmark Physio, our team of experienced and highly qualified physiotherapists has the expertise and resources to help you manage and overcome your elbow pain. We explore the causes and symptoms of elbow pain, as well as the various physiotherapy techniques and exercises that can help relieve pain and improve mobility in the elbow joint.
The elbow is the joint where your upper arm bone (the humerus) meets your lower arm bones (the ulna and radius).
The elbow joint is surrounded by muscles, tendons, and ligaments that help keep it stable. These structures can become strained or damaged when there’s too much pressure on them.
Elbow pain is a common problem, and it can be caused by many different factors such as:
A broken arm is a common injury that usually occurs when the arm hits an object or is forcefully pulled.
A broken arm can cause elbow pain, but the exact reason for it varies from person to person. The most common reason a broken arm causes elbow pain is that when the bone in the forearm breaks, it puts pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the area, which causes pain.
Other reasons for elbow pain with a broken arm are swelling of soft tissue, muscle spasms, and nerve damage.
Bursitis is a condition that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness of the bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones, muscles, tendons, and joints to reduce friction.
The most common cause of elbow bursitis is repetitive arm motions or trauma to the elbow joint. This can happen when you frequently use your arm in the same position for an extended period or when you have an injury to your elbow from using too much force.
Here are some common symptoms of elbow bursitis:
If elbow bursitis is left untreated, it can lead to complications such as arthritis in your elbow joint.
Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and limited movement in the joints. It occurs when the cartilage that protects the ends of bones wears down over time.
Osteoarthritis causes elbow pain because it slowly damages the cartilage and bones that protect the elbow joint.
The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in or around the joint.
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a condition in which a small part of the bone attached to the cartilage of a joint dies due to restricted blood flow.
The causes of the disrupted blood flow to the tiny fragment of bone in OCD are still unknown. However, it leads to that fragment of the bone dying and breaking loose from the other parts of the structure, causing pain and hindering joint motion if it gets stuck in between other bones.
These are some common symptoms of OCD in the elbow joint:
These symptoms can be efficiently managed with early elbow pain treatment. A physiotherapist will recommend gentle range-of-motion exercises, muscle-strengthening routines, and techniques to mitigate the risk of further complications.
An elbow sprain is a tear or stretch of one or more ligaments in the elbow. It can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness.
An elbow sprain is usually caused by an injury to the elbow, such as a fall on an outstretched arm, a direct hit to the elbow, or sudden arm rotation.
Elbow sprain symptoms include:
Tennis elbow is a form of tendonitis. It inflames the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outer part of the elbow. This can be caused by repeated motions and playing racquet sports like tennis and badminton.
The pain that results from tennis elbow can primarily be felt on the outer part of your elbow and your wrist, making everyday tasks like these daunting:
An olecranon stress fracture is an injury to your elbow that can happen when you overextend your arm, causing the bone to break at the point where it is attached to the arm. This injury can also occur if an object hits or bumps your elbow.
This type of fracture is common in people who have weak muscles in their arms or who participate in contact sports like wrestling or rugby. It’s also more common in people who use their arms for repetitive tasks.
The symptoms of an olecranon fracture include:
Swift elbow pain treatment can aid in a speedy recovery of olecranon stress fracture. Physiotherapy will incorporate pain management, gentle exercises to maintain joint mobility, and progressive strength-training routines.
A throwing injury is a type of injury that occurs to the arm and shoulder. The throwing motion stresses the elbow joint, leading to pain, swelling, or stiffness.
Throwing injuries can include painful conditions like bursitis, tendonitis, and ligament damage. This injury is common among athletes in throwing sports like softball, baseball, and volleyball. However, anyone who uses the wrong techniques and improper mechanics to throw things forcefully is at risk of suffering this condition.
Common symptoms of throwing injuries are:
Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow happens when you keep your elbow fully bent over a prolonged period or when the nerve suffers direct pressure from you leaning on the wall or any other solid surface.
The ulnar nerve is responsible for transmitting signals to the muscles on the forearm and hand. It is also in charge of inducing sensation in the fourth and fifth fingers of the hand, a part of the palm and under the forearm. So, when the ulnar nerve is trapped, it affects all these areas on your hand.
These are some common signs and symptoms of ulnar nerve entrapment:
Manage these symptoms by opting for elbow physiotherapy in Singapore. Therapeutic strategies can include nerve-gliding exercises, postural corrections, and techniques to avoid putting pressure on the nerve.
If you suffer from persistent elbow pain for over three days, you should seek professional help. Health professionals are equipped with the knowledge and proper tools to identify the source of your pain and provide a suitable treatment for fast recovery.
These are the visual tests commonly used by physicians to identify the cause of your elbow pain:
At Benchmark Physio, we are committed to delivering the highest quality of care to our patients seeking elbow physiotherapy treatment in Singapore. Our team of experienced and skilled physiotherapists utilises evidence-based techniques to assess and treat elbow pain, tailoring each treatment plan to meet the unique needs and goals of each patient.
We deliver effective and efficient treatments to help our patients achieve optimal outcomes. Our focus on patient-centred care and dedication to ongoing education and training ensures that we provide the most up-to-date and effective treatment options available. Apart from physiotherapy for elbow pain, we also offer neck pain treatment, and frozen shoulder treatment, amongst others. Browse our full range of services.
Our 45-minute physiotherapy consultation sessions cost $190, and home physiotherapy of the same duration costs $260. Learn more about our fees now.
Read our FAQs to find out more or book a session with us to have your condition reviewed.
Ng Hong Kai, an experienced physiotherapist, has carefully reviewed the information on this page.
Clinic Director and Chief Physiotherapist
Hong Kai has been practising musculoskeletal physiotherapy for more than a decade. He is the first Singaporean to achieve dual credentials as both an APA Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and a tertiary trained Exercise Scientist.
Hong Kai's broad and extensive skillset allows him to create solutions that are simple, effective and tailored to a client’s musculoskeletal needs. His beliefs in continuing education and self improvement led him to complete his Masters in Clinical Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal), where he had a chance to participate in formal research into knee osteoarthritis under the supervision of world renowned researcher and physiotherapist Prof Peter 0′ Sullivan.
Hong Kai has experience treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, with a specific focus on addressing lower back, neck, shoulder and knee pain.
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