Why does the outside of my elbow hurt?!

Pain on the lateral aspect of the elbow is called “tennis elbow” and is an inflammation of extensor muscle tendon units of the elbow. It is one of the most common overuse injuries of the elbow.

When considering an overuse injury, it is key to not only look at the elbow in this instance. We use our entire arm throughout the day in addition to the spine which means we need to assess the areas around the elbow that may be contributing to the symptoms. We can’t just focus on the water stain in the ceiling or the crack in the wall. We need to look above and below (the roof and the foundation) to gain more clarity on what is causing the elbow pain to develop a specific treatment plan.

Medication and stretches may help to decrease the symptom intensity early on but because of the chronic muscular adaptations that take place, incorporating strength training into the rehabilitation is crucial to make a complete recovery and return to the activities that were initially painful and you weren’t able to perform.

Don’t let elbow pain impact your ability to lift your kid, perform your job or participate in recreational activities! We can are here to help and answer your questions! We hope you have a great week ahead!

Perspective Physical Therapy and Performance