Elbow Pain Treatment in Austin, TX
Until you have a sore elbow, you probably have never considered how much elbow pain can impact your lifestyle. Your elbow moves every time you reach or lift, thousands of times every day. This versatile joint needs muscles, tendons, bone, cartilage, and other tissues to all work together for pain-free movement. At Carter Physiotherapy, we offer physical therapy for elbow pain in Austin, TX.
Elbow Pain Causes
Elbow pain is often from repetitive arm motions, like playing tennis, golf, or throwing a baseball. So, athletes often need elbow injury treatment.
But other people make repetitive arm movements that need attention from an elbow specialist in Austin, TX. Gardeners, carpenters, and factory employees are also prone to elbow pain from their jobs.
Elbows can be injured suddenly, too. A fall or blow to the arm can damage the elbow joint causing acute elbow pain. Plus, conditions like arthritis and diabetes can create or contribute to elbow problems. If you have elbow surgery, post-operative physical therapy improves outcomes.
There are many causes of elbow pain, and physical therapy helps all of them. Here are a few.
- Tennis Elbow – Weak grip, elbow stiffness, and pain when twisting the forearm.
- Olecranon Stress Fracture – A tiny crack at the tip of the elbow bone from repeated use causing elbow stiffness, finger numbness, tenderness, and inability to straighten the elbow.
- Flexor Tendonitis – Golfer’s elbow has pain, swelling, and limited range of motion with pain from even the slightest elbow movement.
- Osteoarthritis – The elbow cartilage surface wears down or is damaged, caused by aging or a previous elbow injury.
- Bursitis – The fluid-filled sac surrounding the elbow becomes inflamed, with painful swelling at the elbow joint.
Elbow Pain and Elbow Injury Treatment in Austin
Your physical therapist at Carter Physiotherapy begins with a thorough exam. Based on the results, they develop a customized treatment plan to help you recover from your elbow pain. Most patients require a combination of therapies to support complete healing. But always, the first priority is reducing your pain, so you can return to the activities you enjoy.
Contact Carter Physiotherapy, the elbow specialist in Austin, TX, for an assessment of your elbow pain.
FAQs About Physical Therapy for Elbow Pain
Does physical therapy help elbow pain?
Physical therapy is the first recommendation for the treatment of elbow pain. PT improves the joint’s flexibility and motion while reducing and eliminating inflammation and elbow pain. Physical therapy helps chronic and acute elbow pain from injury, illness, and repetitive motion.
What is the best pain relief for elbow tendonitis?
For initial pain relief, consider an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain reliever. In addition, apply a cold pack for 15 minutes 3 or 4 times daily. If the pain persists after a few days, seek an evaluation from a physical therapist.
What are the symptoms of tendonitis in the elbow?
The main symptoms of tendonitis in the elbow are stiffness and pain, often burning pain. The elbow is often tender to the touch on the outside of the arm. Increased elbow pain and stiffness early or late in the day are common, and symptoms are worse when using the arm or hand.
