Elbow pain is common and usually a result of over use injury. It often involves the musculotendon insertion.
Tennis Elbow refers to pain over the outside of the elbow (the lateral epicondyle). Golfer’s Elbow refers to pain over the inside of the elbow (the medial epicondyle). Neither of these symptoms are necessarily caused by tennis or golf. They are both caused by overuse of the relevant muscle groups that attach to these areas and inflammation or micro tears within the tendon/bony attachments.
Elbow pain may also result from an injury to the elbow joint complex or may be referred from the low cervical spine.
Elbow pain can result from trauma, either direct blow or over stretching injury, but more commonly from over use.
Underlying biomechanical dysfunction of the upper limb including neck, shoulder and elbow can contribute to the problem.
Often work place and home activity are significantly involved particularly if ergonomic set up of a particular task or work station is poor.
Your physiotherapist will assess your elbow joint to determine if there is any restriction in mobility that may cause you to overwork your forearm muscles. They will also assess the strength of specific muscle groups attaching to your painful area as well as the ligaments and soft tissues in the area.
As Tennis Elbow / Golfer’s Elbow may also be set up by poor neck posture and irritation of the nerves supplying the elbow, your physiotherapist will also assess your neck movement and specific spinal joint mobility as well as look for any signs of altered nerve tension that may contribute to your Tennis / Golfer’s Elbow.
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