Diseases and Therapeutic Options
Elbow pain can originate from various tissues in the human body, including muscles, tendons, bursae, ligaments, bones, cartilage, and nerves. However, it is possible for the pain to arise from more than one source, indicating the presence of concurrent pathologies. Physical Therapist Konstantinos Danalis evaluates patients by applying international guidelines and identifies potential tissues causing the pain, in order to provide targeted treatment.
What are Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow?
They are also known as epicondylitis. Tennis elbow refers to lateral epicondylitis, while golfer's elbow refers to medial epicondylitis, named so because they frequently occur in athletes participating in these sports. They manifest on the outer and inner sides of the elbow, respectively, and involve tendinopathy and possibly inflammation in the corresponding areas.
What causes elbow pain?
The most common cause of elbow pain is overuse, resulting from repetitive motion of the elbow under significant load. It often occurs in athletes but can also affect individuals engaged in activities requiring constant use of the elbow or wrist.
How can elbow pain be relieved?
When elbow pain arises, immediate actions that can be taken include:
- Resting the hand and avoiding activities that trigger the pain
- Applying ice to the elbow in the painful area for 15-20 minutes, 2-3 times a day. The ice should be wrapped in a towel.
- Applying a bandage to the area
- Performing gentle range-of-motion exercises for the elbow, wrist, and fingers to maintain hand flexibility
What are the symptoms of elbow pain?
Elbow pain can manifest locally, on the outer side (tennis elbow), or on the inner side (golfer's elbow), and can be reproduced with pressure on the corresponding bony prominences inside and outside the elbow. The pain typically occurs in the right hand for right-handed individuals and in the left hand for left-handed individuals, but in special cases, it can occur simultaneously in both hands. The pain can radiate toward the wrist, shoulder, and neck. It is perceived as sensitivity in the area during elbow movement, dullness, and limited motion.
Movements that can trigger the pain include lifting weights, making a fist, gripping objects, opening a door, and even shaking hands.
When should I see a Physical Therapist?
- When the pain persists for days despite performing the initial actions mentioned above
- When the pain is severe, accompanied by swelling and bruising
- When the pain is present even without hand movement
- When there is an impediment in daily activities due to the inability to flex/extend the elbow
What will happen if I do nothing about the elbow pain?
The pain may temporarily subside after a period of time, but it will return later, more intense, and causing significant limitations in hand movement.
What is the best treatment for elbow pain?
If you have mild pain, immediate actions mentioned above are likely to alleviate it soon. However, if the pain does not improve or is more severe than mild pain, physical therapy is required to reduce pain and restore range of motion and hand strength. Physical Therapist Konstantinos Danalis offers the following treatments:
How long does elbow pain last?
Usually, elbow pain lasts for 2 weeks if no intervention is done. However, in more severe cases, the pain can persist for several weeks.
How can I prevent elbow pain?
To prevent elbow pain, you should:
- Stop the activity immediately if you feel pain.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects.
- Adopt proper hand positions.
- Improve the ergonomics of your workspace.
Will wearing an elbow brace help?
Although wearing an elbow brace was previously recommended to reduce pain and support the elbow during sports or activities, recent studies show that it does not actually help in reducing pain. Therefore, wearing an elbow brace is not necessary. If you choose to wear one, keep in mind that prolonged use may lead to muscle atrophy and is not recommended.
What are the most common causes of elbow pain? Differential diagnosis.
- Epicondylitis
- Sprain
- Strain
- Tendinopathy
- Golfer's Elbow (medial epicondylalgia)
- Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylalgia)
- Osteoarthritis
- Olecranon neuritis
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What patients say...Read more...
Athnasia A.
Mr Danalis is a very good professional who pays the necessary attention to his patient's condition. The most important is the quality and effectiveness of his creative treatment. Highly recommended!
Erifili S.
Mr Danalis has very deep knowledge on his practice and sepnds a lot of time on his patient! H is very positive and has helped me a lot!! I trust him and higly recommend him!
Giota S.
He has deep knowledge of his practice, he spent a lot of time on my condition kai he trully gained my trust! I would definitely recommend him!
How can I prevent Elbow Pain
For elbow pain prevention, a monthly program of sessions is required that includes :
You can find more advice for prevention and self care for elbow pain pain you can find in the links below:
What is the cost of treatment
The cost of treatment is not high. The required sessions are usually 6, and in each one the treament progrmm is adjusted to the cauurent codnition. After redusing symptoms a structured exercise program is introduced to continue therapy and avert reccurent symptoms. The program is prescribed electronically, so that the patient has easy access and execute it by himself/herself. There is also the option of online supervision at a low cost. Continuous communication between the patient and the doctor is maintained for ongoing support.
Contact PhysioDanali today for your consultation.
References
- Lucado AM, Day JM, Vincent JI, et al. Lateral Elbow Pain and Muscle Function Impairments. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2022;52(12):CPG1-CPG111. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.0302
- Landesa-Piñeiro L, Leirós-Rodríguez R. Physiotherapy treatment of lateral epicondylitis: A systematic review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2022;35(3):463-477. doi:10.3233/BMR-210053