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Physical Therapy and Treatment for Elbow Pain in New Jersey

Physical therapist works with patient to relieve elbow pain

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requent elbow pain is common, especially in people with repetitive manual labor jobs such as construction, serving, and childcare. The most common causes of elbow pain are repetitive injuries like medial and lateral epicondylitis, also known as golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow. However, elbow pain can also be caused by direct trauma or ruptures to the ligaments supporting the joint.

Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) treats patients with elbow pain at locations throughout northern New Jersey. CNSO offers physical therapy and other treatment options for a vast number of conditions. Learn more about elbow pain, its risk factors, and care plan options.

Causes and Risk Factors for Elbow Pain

Elbow pain can be caused by many things, but it is most often caused by overuse or trauma. Repetitive motion applying force or poor mechanics during elbow, wrist, or hand movements is often the cause of elbow pain. Elbow pain also may be due to a specific mechanism of injury or congenital malformation. The most common causes of elbow pain are:

  • Overuse causing inflammation or a fracture:
    • Golfer’s Elbow (medial epicondylitis)
    • Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
    • Tendonitis (can be of triceps or biceps)
    • Stress fractures
    • Bursitis
  • Malformation Above or Below the Elbow:
  • Injuries:
    • Broken arm
    • Dislocated elbow
    • Sprains
    • Throwing injuries
    • Falls on outstretched hand (FOOSH) injuries
    • Osteochondritis dissecans
  • Arthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Gout
    • Pseudogout
    • Reactive arthritis
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • Septic arthritis

Some people are more likely to develop elbow pain than others due to different risk factors. Below are several known risk factors that could lead to elbow pain:

  • Job Responsibilities: People who work manual labor jobs or jobs with continued repetitive movements of the hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder are more at risk for developing elbow pain.
  • Sports Activities: Certain athletic movements using the upper extremities are at increased risk for developing elbow pain, specifically throwing a ball overhand. Of all sports, baseball pitchers are the most at risk for elbow pain but quarterbacks, volleyball players, tennis players, and golfers are susceptible, too.
  • Lack of Mobility: A lack of mobility of the joints from the neck down to the hand will increase the chances of injuring the elbow due to poor mechanics or lack of flexibility to handle forces placed on the elbow.
  • Lack of Strength: Poor strength of the muscles of the neck down the entire upper extremity can lead to elbow pain due to poor stability through the joint or mechanics when performing activities with that limb.
  • Previous Injury: Previous injuries to the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand increase a person’s risk of developing elbow pain. Previous injuries can weaken structures and affect joint mechanics, leading to an increase in risk.
  • Natural aging process: Occasionally, elbow pain is an effect of the natural aging process. Age-related wear and tear on the joint surfaces of the elbow can compound over time, leading to degeneration of the joint surface and eventual development of arthritis within the joint.

Differential Diagnosis of Elbow Pain

A primary care doctor often will diagnose elbow pain without finding the root cause. To determine the cause and the appropriate treatment, the patient will be sent to an orthopedist or physical therapist. Elbow pain is then assessed using the following steps, to diagnose the cause of the pain:

  • Medical history assessment: The patient’s medical history is analyzed to determine whether there could be another condition or genetic factors causing elbow pain.
  • Physical examination: The patient’s neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand areexamined to check for pain distribution, changes in reflexes, loss of sensation, range of motion deficits, and muscle weakness, along with other signs and symptoms indicative of an elbow pathology.
  • Diagnostic imaging tests: These may include X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT) scans.

The diagnostic tests will help determine what structures are causing the elbow pain and what needs to be modified or repaired to relieve that pain.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Elbow Pain

CNSO prides itself as New Jersey’s premier rehabilitation service provider. CNSO will always recommend conservative treatment before invasive options are considered unless the elbow condition requires immediate surgery. An extremely skilled and experienced physical therapist will evaluate patients. The physical therapist will assess the patient to determine the root cause of the elbow pain. The therapist will then formulate a personalized plan of care that will return the patient to their prior level of function. In most elbow pain cases, patients are freed from pain and can get back to performing their desired level of activity with non-surgical treatment options, such as:

Activity and Lifestyle Modifications

If the elbow pain stems from overuse, patients are advised to prioritize rest, make activity modifications, and form better lifestyle habits to reduce their symptoms. These may include:

  • Using better form during their athletic activity
  • Practicing better posture when reaching, pulling, or lifting
  • Limiting sports or other strenuous activities (throwing, lifting, etc.)
  • Making work-related ergonomic adjustments such as adjusting chair, desk, or computer heights or using ergonomic tools (staple removers, hammers, mouse)

Physical Therapy and Exercise

A personalized physical therapy regimen often decreases and eliminates the symptoms of elbow pain. A physical therapist will use targeted exercises and joint manipulations to the structures of the neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist to help decrease the patient’s pain and improve their functional mobility. CNSO offers physical therapy services in Wayne, Paramus, Morristown, and Jersey City, NJ.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are available over the counter at many retail locations and pharmacies and may be prescribed. They are recommended for patients who have pain that limits their functional mobility.

Oral Corticosteroids

These medications aim to reduce inflammation and swelling in the elbow joint and surrounding tissue. They usually are prescribed in a short course, over five to seven days, and often are followed by a course of NSAIDs.

Injection of a Steroid or Other Medication

Certain conditions causing elbow pain can be improved with an injection of medication into the elbow joint or the surrounding nerves. A doctor specializing in pain management or an orthopedic surgeon determines which medication would be most effective and performs the procedure.

Surgical Options for Treating Elbow Pain

If the elbow pain does not improve with conservative treatment, or CNSO diagnoses a root cause that cannot be treated conservatively, the physical therapists will refer the patient to the appropriate surgical specialty. The physical therapist will then conduct the planning for the patient to have a successful and expedient recovery from the surgery.

Trust CNSO for Elbow Pain Care

The care team at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) understands how debilitating elbow pain can be and how it can limit one’s ability to perform the daily tasks of life. By choosing CNSO each person will be working with a dedicated team of physical therapists and pain management specialists to target the patient’s areas of dysfunction. This helps patients return to their prior level of function and athleticism. CNSO offers multiple convenient locations across northern New Jersey, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, and Hudson counties. To learn more about effectively treating elbow pain, contact the medical team at CNSO today.

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In order to provide an accurate diagnosis with the most effective treatment option for “back problems” and brain tumors, CNSO is led by neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. Under the care of our award-winning neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons, Northern NJ patients can have the confidence that their medical condition will be handled with consideration for their comfort and long-term well-being as well as technical excellence.

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