Elbow pain
Get a Handle on Your Elbow Pain
Your elbow might be a simple hinge joint, but it’s essential for countless daily tasks, from lifting your morning coffee to carrying groceries and participating in sports. When elbow pain develops, its impact is felt immediately, making even the simplest gripping or twisting motions difficult.
Whether your pain is on the inside or outside of your elbow, it’s often a sign of an overuse injury that needs more than just rest to resolve. At Velca, we identify the source of the strain and provide a clear plan to get you back to using your arm with confidence.
Common Causes of Elbow Pain
Most elbow pain stems from repetitive strain to the tendons that attach your forearm muscles to the bones of your elbow.
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): The most common cause of elbow pain, felt on the outside of the elbow. Despite its name, it's often caused by activities involving repetitive gripping and wrist extension, like typing, using tools, or cooking.
Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis): Similar to tennis elbow, but the pain is felt on the bony bump on the inside of the elbow. It's caused by overuse of the muscles that flex your wrist and fingers.
Olecranon Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa (a small fluid-filled sac) at the bony tip of the elbow, which can cause a visible swelling and ache.
Referred Pain: In some cases, elbow pain can be referred from an issue in the neck or shoulder, which is why a thorough assessment is crucial.
How Velca Targets Elbow Pain
Rest alone is rarely enough. We focus on healing the tissue and addressing the underlying causes to prevent recurrence.
Accurate Diagnosis: We perform specific tests to confirm the diagnosis and assess your entire arm, including your neck and shoulder, to ensure we are treating the true source of the problem. Sometimes x-rays and ultrasound scans may be needed.
Pain Relief and Tissue Healing: In the early stages, we use hands-on therapy, massage, and give you advice on activity modification and load management to calm the irritated tendon and promote healing.
Progressive Strengthening Program: This is the key to long-term success. We provide a tailored program to gradually strengthen the muscles of your forearm, as well as the supporting muscles in your shoulder and rotator cuff.
Technique and Ergonomic Advice: We can analyse your technique in sports or at work to identify and correct movements that are overloading your elbow, helping you return to your activities safely.