Physiotherapy for Elbow Pain in London
Elbow Pain
If elbow pain is getting in the way of your daily life, it’s time to find a physiotherapist you can trust. With Physit, expert physiotherapy comes to your home: no waiting rooms, no bus queues, and no sterile offices. Just the care you need in a comfortable place.
What Is Elbow Pain?
Elbow pain is one of those things that can sneak up on you. It can start out as a bit of soreness when lifting something, or a dull, annoying ache after a busy day. Over time, it might become more constant, or it might make everyday tasks a lot harder than they should be. On the other hand, you may only experience it when doing a certain activity.
Most elbow pain comes from overuse, inflammation, or small injuries to the muscles, tendons, or joints that surround and support the elbow. You may have heard of conditions like tennis elbow (pain on the outer part of the elbow), golfer’s elbow (pain on the inside), or even bursitis, which involves swelling in one of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joint.
These issues can make regular movements (like lifting a kettle, opening jars, brushing your teeth, or even typing on a keyboard) feel uncomfortable, frustrating, or downright painful.
The good news? Elbow pain is often very treatable, and you don’t need injections or surgery to feel better. With a skilful physiotherapy programme, many people can minimise their discomfort, build strength, and get back to moving more freely and comfortably in their everyday life.
Common Symptoms of Elbow Pain
Elbow pain can show up in all kinds of ways, and often, it’s not just the elbow that’s affected. You might notice symptoms like:
- Pain or tenderness around the joint, either on the inside or outside of the elbow
- Stiffness or difficulty fully bending or straightening your arm
- Discomfort when gripping, lifting, or twisting, such as opening a jar, picking up a kettle, or turning a door handle
- Pain that flares with repetitive movements, like using tools, gardening, or carrying shopping bags
- Weakness in the hand, wrist, or forearm, making it harder to carry or hold onto things
Many symptoms of elbow pain manifest beyond the elbow and into the wrist, hand, and forearm, making elbow pain something that’s experienced beyond the elbow. One of the reasons elbow pain is treatable is that it often arises from movement that’s not being done correctly or movement that’s being done too much. With plenty of rest, form corrections, and pacing tools for spacing out specific movements, these symptoms will fade.
What Can Increase Your Risk of Elbow Pain?
Elbow pain rarely arises without cause. Certain habits, movements, or health factors can add up over time and cause discomfort. Here are a few common risk factors that increase your risk of experiencing elbow pain at some point in your lifetime.
- Repetitive arm or wrist movements: Activities like using tools, typing, lifting, or certain sports (like tennis or golf) can overwork the tendons around the elbow.
- Previous elbow or wrist injuries: Old sprains, strains, or fractures can leave the area more sensitive or prone to discomfort down the line.
- Poor posture or body mechanics: How you sit, stand, lift, or move can have a big impact on how much pressure your elbow has to absorb during daily tasks.
- Weak shoulder or wrist muscles: When nearby muscles aren’t doing their part, the elbow often ends up taking on more than its fair share of the load.
- Jobs or hobbies involving frequent gripping, pushing, or pulling: From gardening to weightlifting, repetitive strain can gradually lead to irritation or injury.
- Age-related wear and tear: Over time, the tendons and joints naturally lose a bit of flexibility and strength, making them more vulnerable to strain.
What Causes Elbow Pain?
Elbow pain rarely comes from a traumatic injury. It usually manifests over time, which can make it more difficult to pinpoint the cause.
The good news is that once you understand what’s causing the problem, there’s a lot that can be done to ease the pain and help your elbow feel better again. Here are some of the most common causes of elbow pain.
- Overuse injuries like tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow: These happen when the tendons around the elbow become irritated from repeated motions, like lifting, twisting, or gripping. Even something as simple as typing on a keyboard or gardening can set things off.
- Bursitis or tendinitis: These are both types of inflammation that affect either the bursa (a small fluid-filled cushion) or the tendons. When irritated, these tissues can become swollen, sore, and sensitive to movement.
- Joint stiffness or arthritis: As we age, the cartilage that protects our joints can wear down. That can lead to stiffness, aching, or a grinding feeling in the elbow, especially with regular use.
- Muscle imbalance or poor movement habits: If the muscles around the shoulder, wrist, or forearm aren’t working together properly, the elbow can end up under more strain than it should, leading to pain and discomfort over time.
- Nerve irritation (like cubital tunnel syndrome): This occurs when the ulnar nerve, which runs along the inside of the elbow, gets compressed or irritated. It can cause tingling, numbness, or a “funny bone” feeling that won’t quite go away.
How Physit Treats Elbow Pain
At Physit, we understand how frustrating elbow pain can be, especially when it gets in the way of everyday things like pouring the kettle, lifting a bag, or even brushing your teeth. We take the time to understand how the pain is affecting you, what movements feel hard, and what you’d like to get back to doing.
We may observe you at home since this is where you spend a lot of time, and we can make notes about any postural corrections From there, we build a plan that creates long-term results, not just short-term relief.
Here’s what your treatment may include.
- Manual therapy: Gentle, hands-on techniques that can help ease tension, reduce irritation in the tissues around the elbow, and help the joint move more freely. This may include massage, gentle movement exercises, or even medical acupuncture, depending on your comfort level.
- Strengthening exercises: We focus on the muscles that support your elbow, especially the wrist, forearm, and shoulder, to take pressure off the joint and improve function.
- Mobility and flexibility work: Certain gentle movements can help increase your range of motion, helping your arm move smoothly and comfortably, with less strain on tendons and joints.
- Activity guidance and education: We provide practical advice on how to adjust your movements, avoid common triggers, and use your elbow without flaring up symptoms and making things worse.
- Personalised care plans with regular check-ins: We’ll keep track of your progress, adjust your plan as you improve, and stay with you each step of the way.
At Physit, we’re focused on the whole person, not just the elbow. Even though you’re experiencing pain in one part of the body, the entire body works together to make movement happen — so that’s what we focus on rehabilitating.
Whether your goal is to get through your day without pain or to get back to doing the activities you love, or both, we’re here to help you get there with confidence, comfort, and long-lasting support.
Conditions We Treat
Our London home and work visit physiotherapists are highly experienced in assessing and treating a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:
0204 570 2391- Post-surgical rehabilitation (knee, hip, shoulder, and spinal surgeries, as well as general surgical recovery)
- Age-related mobility issues, including falls prevention and balance training
- Chronic pain management (back pain, arthritis, and joint stiffness)
- Neurological conditions impacting mobility and coordination
- Post-hospital deconditioning and general rehabilitation to restore strength, balance, and independence
- All musculoskeletal realted injuries or pain
Frequently Asked Questions About Elbow Pain
1. What’s the difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow?
Both conditions involve irritated tendons around the elbow, but in slightly different spots. Tennis elbow affects the outer part of the elbow (lateral side), while golfer’s elbow causes pain on the inner side (medial). They’re both caused by repetitive use, and both respond well to physiotherapy, which can help with healing and strengthening the surrounding muscles.
2. Can I treat elbow pain without injections or surgery?
Yes, in most cases, you can. Many people find real relief through physiotherapy alone. With a mix of hands-on treatment, customised exercises, and a few simple changes to how you move or use your arm, it’s often possible to reduce your pain and improve function without needing more invasive treatments.
3. How long does it take for elbow pain to improve with physiotherapy?
Everyone’s different, but most people start noticing progress within a few weeks. The timeline depends on how long you’ve had the pain, what’s causing it, and how your body responds to treatment. We’ll keep track of your progress and adjust your plan as needed to keep things moving in the right direction.
4. Do I need a referral to start physiotherapy with Physit?
No referral needed! You can book directly with Physit, and we’ll come to your home for a full assessment. From there, we’ll build a personalised plan that fits your needs and helps get you feeling better.
Get a Grip on Elbow Pain
You don’t have to keep putting up with that nagging elbow pain or stiffness. Your arm deserves to feel strong, steady, and pain-free again.
With Physit, expert physiotherapy comes straight to your home. We’ll work with you to ease away your discomfort, improve your range of movement, and help you get back to all of your everyday tasks with confidence.
