Physical Therapy To Relieve Elbow Pain
Elbow Tendinitis is an overuse injury. It usually occurs after a sudden increase in activity. Golfer’s elbow and Tennis elbow are different types of elbow tendinitis, where pain is often experienced on the outside of the elbow and sometimes in the wrist or forearm. Repetitive wrist and arm motions cause inflammation and tissue damage, where pain is the primary symptom.
Treatment is quite simple for elbow tendinitis and includes rest, ice, pain relievers, and physical therapy. At Cross Bay Physical Therapy, we help people everyday overcome Golfer’s elbow, Tennis elbow, and other forms elbow tendinitis might take. It is best to come in for an evaluation right away at our facility in Howard Beach, Queens because we will put you on a program that prevents further injury from occurring.
There are many other activities that could have caused tennis or golfer’s elbow other than tennis or golf including painting, repetitive computer mouse use, using plumbing tools or repetitive cutting while cooking.
If you are experiencing pain while doing even mundane activities such as shaking hands, gripping, an object, turning a door knob, or even holding a cup of coffee, you likely have elbow tendinitis and physical therapy can greatly help. Our physical therapists create a custom provide tailored to your age, lifestyle, and occupation that will accelerate the recovery of your elbow.
Through a combination of stretching, strengthening exercises, and hands-on physical therapy, it is possible to quickly heal elbow tendinitis. Our physical therapists will work with you closely to make sure you understand each stretch and exercise.
Some exercises include:
- Fist clench - Poor grip strength is a symptom of elbow tendinitis and will cause you pain when attempting to grab things. Improving grip strength will build your forearm muscles making it easier to perform normal daily activity. For the fist clench, simply lie your forearm on a flat surface while holding a towel. Squeeze the towel clenching your fist and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times and the switch hands.
- Wrist Extension - The wrist extensors are muscles that are responsible for bending your wrist. These muscles are also subject to overuse that can be causing pain. By strengthening these muscles, we are building them back up after injury. All you need for this exercise is a two pound dumb bell and a chair. Simply sit in the chair and rest your forearm on your knee. The dumb bell should be in your hand hanging in the air in front of your knee. Keep your palm facing downwards and then next, extend your wrist by lifting it back toward your body. Next, return to the starting position and repeat for 10 repetitions.
It is important to follow the guidance of a physical therapist as to not further injure yourself. This is why we recommend scheduling an evaluation at Cross Bay Physical Therapy. Allow us to create a custom program that we know will bring you success.
Call (718) 835-0084 and schedule your evaluation.