Wrist or Elbow Pain? Let’s Break It Down
Wrist or Elbow Pain? Let’s Break It Down
Remember the last time you accidentally slammed your funny bone? That sharp, radiating pain is deeply unpleasant — fortunately, it usually only lasts a few moments. But what happens when that pain lingers? If you’re dealing with pain in your elbow, forearm, or wrist, Excel Physical Therapy is here to help!
Wrist and elbow pain can have several potential causes. Three major nerves run through the arm and can become entrapped, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain. You can also injure the muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the elbow and wrist joints, which can cause mobility restrictions and pain in the impacted area.
Our team of physical therapists will help you get to the bottom of your elbow pain — and we’ll help you find a way to resolve that pain for good. Call us to schedule an appointment and get started today!
A Closer Look at the Causes of Wrist and Elbow Pain
When you come in for your appointment, the first thing we’ll do is carefully review your symptoms and run a few simple movement screens to help pinpoint the cause of your pain.
Overuse injuries are one of the more common causes of wrist and elbow pain. You’ve probably heard of conditions such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow — both are examples of overuse injuries. They stem from repetitive movements or awkward postures that strain the joint’s soft tissue, leading to a gradual onset of symptoms.
You can also suffer acute injuries, particularly in the wrist. These injuries happen suddenly rather than over time. Wrist sprains, in which the ligaments in the wrist suffer damage, are among the most common. You can also fracture the bones in your wrist and elbow, which will typically require medical intervention.
Nerve disorders are another common source of discomfort in the elbow, forearm, and wrist. They occur when one of the nerves running through the arm becomes entrapped, leading to pain, numbness or tingling, and mobility restrictions. The location of your symptoms can let you know which nerve is affected:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve and can become trapped in a structure in your wrist (the carpal tunnel). You’ll typically experience symptoms in your wrist and hand.
- Cubital tunnel syndrome affects the ulnar nerve, which passes through a narrow structure in your elbow (the cubital tunnel). If the nerve becomes entrapped in the cubital tunnel, it can cause symptoms in your elbow and hand.
Finally, arthritis can affect your elbows and wrists, leading to pain and restricted range of motion.
What Physical Therapy Can Do to Help Ease Your Wrist and Elbow Pain
Once our therapist has determined the source of your pain, we’ll develop a customized treatment program to help you find relief. The good news is that physical therapy alone can resolve most common sources of wrist and elbow pain. Here are a few of the techniques we might incorporate into your program:
- Manual Therapy: Manual therapy techniques help reduce pain and restore mobility restrictions. We might guide the joint through its current range of motion, manipulate your soft tissue, or try other techniques.
- Therapeutic Exercises: We’ll create a targeted, progressive exercise program to ease your symptoms. We’ll start with gentle stretches and mobility work, then move on to strengthening exercises to help support and stabilize the impacted joint.
- Braces and Splints: Some conditions might benefit from a brace or splint, which temporarily immobilizes the joint as you work on treatment. We’ll let you know if it’s a good choice and help you find the right device to suit your needs.
- Injury Prevention: We’ll let you know what you can do to prevent future injuries. We might show you ergonomic adjustments to reduce the impact of repetitive movements, postural corrections to minimize strain on your wrist or elbow, or other strategies.
Let’s Get to the Root of Your Wrist or Elbow Pain!
Pain in the wrist or elbow can seriously impact your quality of life, making it difficult to perform day-to-day movements like brushing your teeth, typing on a computer, or preparing a meal. The team at Excel Physical Therapy will help you get to the bottom of your pain to find lasting relief.
Call us to schedule your initial appointment today!
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Service Spotlight: Dry Needling
Dry Needling Could Decrease Your Pain Symptoms!
You are not alone if you are suffering from pain or dysfunction; more than 50 million adults suffer from chronic pain each year. Physical therapy, thankfully, is one option available to you for pain relief! Dry needling is a therapeutic service Excel Physical Therapy offers to our patients in need.
Dry Needling FAQ
Does Dry Needling Hurt? If you think dry needling is painful just because it uses the word “needle,” think again! The majority of our patients experience little to no discomfort during and after in-office procedures. Our highly educated physical therapists know how to make the treatment session as pleasant as possible.
Is Dry Needling The Same as Acupuncture? While it is a popular misconception, dry needling is not acupuncture. Although there are some parallels between the two therapy procedures, dry needling is based on western medical and research approaches.
What Conditions Does Dry Needling Treat? Dry needling can be effective in treating a wide range of conditions, including chronic headaches, neck pain, joint pain, jaw pain, back pain, and overuse injuries. It has also been shown to benefit various musculoskeletal disorders such as sciatica, muscle spasms, muscle strains, tendinitis, knee and hip pain, acute and chronic injuries, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow, and golfer’s elbow.
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Team Congratulations!
Ryan Strupp, DPT completed his
Level 1 Dry Needling Certification
Stephanie Shoemaker Korb, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC completed “Extremity Management” Course in April
Success Story
Daisy W.
Stephanie is highly intelligent, well-rounded and compassionate about everything she does with her patients. She intently listens and tailors physical therapy to your needs of that day while still ensuring that your progression is not disrupted. I have worked through several different running injuries and thoracic outlet syndrome with Stephanie. I cannot reiterate enough her intelligence and skill that has helped me find my body’s balance, wellness, and strength. Without Stephanie, my mental and physical goals were impossible! With any and all physical issues I am facing, I can place my trust in Stephanie and the Excel staff to make sure I heal, recover and become stronger than ever before! Highly recommend Stephanie as a physical therapist for new or old physical issues you may be facing today!
June Word Scramble
cresunnse
teaaldcsns
miwsmngi
avoatnic
gdenidw
refiifsle
Answer Key
sunscreen
sandcastle
swimming
vacation
wedding
fireflies
Our Staff In The Wild!
Jana, Clifford, and Cameron with the Easter Bunny
Stephanie, Mitch, and Carson at the NFL draft in Green Bay
