Signs you need physical therapy for tennis elbow

signs you need physical therapy for tennis elbow

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, refers to inflammation and irritation of the tendons that connect the forearm to the elbow. This condition typically develops due to overload and repetitive motion on the elbow, and although it is common in tennis players, it can affect anyone who puts stress on this area of the […]

What should every person know about elbow pain?

elbow pain treatment grand rapids

It’s easy to take your elbows and other joints for granted, but when they get hurt, you suddenly realize their importance. Your elbows are at risk for pain primarily due to overuse, but elbow aches can have many other causes, too. Your elbows are joints made up of bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments and joints. Each […]

Three issues can cause elbow pain when you’re lifting weights

Spending more time at home can be a positive thing. It can allow you to spend more time with your loved ones. You might have time for that fun hobby you’ve always wanted to try. Even better, you may have the opportunity to improve your physical fitness, and this means doing more weightlifting for many […]

Why does my elbow hurt when I bend it?

why does my elbow hurt when i bend it

We use our elbows for so many things every day. Lifting our morning cup of coffee. Holding our cellphone up to text a friend. However, many people take such common actions for granted until they begin causing them pain.  There are many issues that could be causing your elbow pain, and figuring out which issue […]

What causes elbow pain when bending and straightening my arm?

elbow pain when bending and straightening

You rely on the use of your elbows for many of your actions throughout the day. Getting dressed, taking a shower, cooking, gardening and many other activities all require the use of your arms and the elbows. When one or both of your elbows are in pain when bending and straightening your arm, it can […]

Three tips for dealing with pain in the elbow when straightening the arm

tips for dealing with pain in the elbow when straightening the arm

You probably don’t give much thought to your elbows until one or both of them are hurt. When your elbows are hurt, your daily life can suddenly become much more difficult due to the limited use of your arm.  Several types of injuries and conditions can affect your elbows, causing a variety of symptoms. One […]

Three reasons you might have wrist pain with no swelling

wrist pain with no swelling

The wrist is one of the most used joints in the body. It allows us to turn doorknobs, type and bend our hands in many directions. However, most people don’t pay much attention to this vital joint until it starts to hurt.  In fact, wrist pain is a common complaint among individuals of all ages […]

Three exercises to avoid to keep tennis elbow from worsening

tennis elbow exercises to avoid

Pain on the outside of the elbow. Stiffness in the elbow when waking up in the morning. Increased elbow pain when grasping objects or repeatedly moving the elbow. If you have all these symptoms, it’s a good bet that you have a condition called lateral epicondylitis.  More commonly, this condition is called tennis elbow. It’s […]

Three tennis elbow exercises you should avoid to prevent making the pain worse

three tennis elbow exercises to avoid

If you’re dealing with tennis elbow, the right combination of rest and therapeutic exercise can go a long way toward helping the recovery process. Working with a skilled and experienced physical therapist can help you develop an effective plan that helps improve functionality and injury resistance. However, it’s important to understand that some types of […]

Three issues that cause pain when bending or straightening the elbow

elbow pain

Your elbows are busy moving on a daily basis. They help you lift a glass to your mouth so you can drink. This joint straightens your arm so you can grab objects above your head, and these are just a few of the normal daily movements you use your elbow for.  Such movements can become […]

Pain when bending and straightening elbow: Three causes

pain when bending and straightening elbow: three causes elbow pain

Your elbows do a lot more work on a daily basis than you might think. Your elbow moves every time you bring your morning coffee to your mouth. Turning the steering wheel of your car would be impossible without it. It even allows you to straighten your arm to reach objects above your head.  All […]

Two exercises help pain when elbow is bent or straightened

you might not think too much about it, but your elbows move a lot during a normal day. they bend to lift your morning cup of coffee to your lips. they twist to turn doorknobs. bending and straightening so many times every day can leave your elbows vulnerable to injury. in fact, one medical article reports that injuries like tennis elbow affect up to 3% of the u.s. population every year. people who are feeling pain when bending or straightening their elbow can find help from a physical therapist. these specialists have many techniques at their disposal, and they can combine them into a personalized plan to reduce your pain. therapeutic exercises are commonly used to treat elbow pain. there are two exercises in particular that your therapist might prescribe. wrist extensor stretch tightness in your forearm muscles is one common cause of tennis elbow, and it can also lead to elbow pain when bending or straightening your arm. physical therapists can show you how to stretch forearm muscles to reduce tightness. one exercise often used for this purpose is the wrist extensor stretch. how to do the wrist extensor stretch start by holding the affected arm straight out in front of you with your palm down. you can also rest your forearm on a table or countertop if you have trouble maintaining this position; just make sure your wrist is hanging over the edge of the surface. grasp the fingers of the affected hand with your other hand. slowly pull downward toward the floor until you feel a stretch in the outside of your forearm. hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. release the stretch and rest your arm for 10 seconds. repeat these steps until you’ve done three repetitions. wrist turn physical therapists can also show you exercises that can strengthen the forearm muscles. improving strength in these muscles can help decrease pain in your elbow when it’s bent or straightened, and this goal can be accomplished with the wrist turn exercise. how to do the wrist turn exercise place the affected forearm on a table, countertop or other flat surface; your wrist should be over the edge of the surface, and your palm should be facing up. slowly turn your hand inward so that your palm is facing down. concentrate on tightening the forearm muscles during this movement. hold this position for three to five seconds. return your hand to the starting position and rest for five seconds. repeat these steps until you’ve done three sets of five repetitions. you can also use a light hand weight or can of soup to add weight, which will make the exercise more challenging. elbow pain when bending and straightening your arm can be treated at excel sports & physical therapy are you feeling pain every time your elbow is bent and straightened? excel sports & physical therapy offers treatment options that can help. our clinics offer free screenings to help you get your treatment started. we also create individualized therapy plans that meet each patient’s specific needs, and our plans often include beneficial therapy methods such as: therapeutic exercises joint mobilization kinesio taping® hand therapy joint mobilization don’t wait to start getting our help with your elbow pain. contact our team today for more information about how we can help you or to schedule an initial appointment.

You might not think too much about it, but your elbows move a lot during a normal day. They bend to lift your morning cup of coffee to your lips. They twist to turn doorknobs. Bending and straightening so many times every day can leave your elbows vulnerable to injury. In fact, one medical article […]