Remember the last time you accidentally slammed your funny bone? That sharp, radiating pain is deeply unpleasant — fortunately, it usually only lasts a few moments. But what happens when that pain lingers? If you’re dealing with pain in your elbow, forearm, or wrist, Terry Physical Therapy is here to help!
Wrist and elbow pain can have several potential causes. Three major nerves run through the arm and can become entrapped, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain. You can also injure the muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the elbow and wrist joints, which can cause mobility restrictions and pain in the impacted area.
Our team of physical therapists will help you get to the bottom of your elbow pain — and we’ll help you find a way to resolve that pain for good. Call us to schedule an appointment and get started today!
A Closer Look at the Causes of Wrist and Elbow Pain
When you come in for your appointment, the first thing we’ll do is carefully review your symptoms and run a few simple movement screens to help pinpoint the cause of your pain.
Overuse injuries are one of the more common causes of wrist and elbow pain. You’ve probably heard of conditions such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow — both are examples of overuse injuries. They stem from repetitive movements or awkward postures that strain the joint’s soft tissue, leading to a gradual onset of symptoms.
You can also suffer acute injuries, particularly in the wrist. These injuries happen suddenly rather than over time. Wrist sprains, in which the ligaments in the wrist suffer damage, are among the most common. You can also fracture the bones in your wrist and elbow, which will typically require medical intervention.
Nerve disorders are another common source of discomfort in the elbow, forearm, and wrist. They occur when one of the nerves running through the arm becomes entrapped, leading to pain, numbness or tingling, and mobility restrictions. The location of your symptoms can let you know which nerve is affected:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve and can become trapped in a structure in your wrist (the carpal tunnel). You’ll typically experience symptoms in your wrist and hand.
- Cubital tunnel syndrome affects the ulnar nerve, which passes through a narrow structure in your elbow (the cubital tunnel). If the nerve becomes entrapped in the cubital tunnel, it can cause symptoms in your elbow and hand.
Finally, arthritis can affect your elbows and wrists, leading to pain and restricted range of motion.
What Physical Therapy Can Do to Help Ease Your Wrist and Elbow Pain
Once our therapist has determined the source of your pain, we’ll develop a customized treatment program to help you find relief. The good news is that physical therapy alone can resolve most common sources of wrist and elbow pain. Here are a few of the techniques we might incorporate into your program:
Manual Therapy:
Manual therapy techniques help reduce pain and restore mobility restrictions. We might guide the joint through its current range of motion, manipulate your soft tissue, or try other techniques.
Therapeutic Exercises:
We’ll create a targeted, progressive exercise program to ease your symptoms. We’ll start with gentle stretches and mobility work, then move on to strengthening exercises to help support and stabilize the impacted joint.
Braces and Splints:
Some conditions might benefit from a brace or splint, which temporarily immobilizes the joint as you work on treatment. We’ll let you know if it’s a good choice and help you find the right device to suit your needs.
Injury Prevention:
We’ll let you know what you can do to prevent future injuries. We might show you ergonomic adjustments to reduce the impact of repetitive movements, postural corrections to minimize strain on your wrist or elbow, or other strategies.
Let’s Get to the Root of Your Wrist or Elbow Pain!
Pain in the wrist or elbow can seriously impact your quality of life, making it difficult to perform day-to-day movements like brushing your teeth, typing on a computer, or preparing a meal. The team at Terry Physical Therapy will help you get to the bottom of your pain to find lasting relief.
Call us to schedule your initial appointment today!
Ingredients
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- All-purpose flour
- 2 sheets puff pastry
- 12 slices prosciutto
- 1 (8-oz.) Brie, cut into 12
- 1 large egg
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line baking sheets.
- Mix butter, honey, and salt in a bowl.
- Toss asparagus with olive oil.
- Roll puff pastry into rectangles and cut into 12 squares.
- Brush with butter mixture and layer prosciutto.
- Add asparagus and Brie.
- Fold pastry, seal with egg wash, and season.
- Bake ~15 minutes until golden and melted.
- Brush with remaining butter mixture before serving.
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“Great employees. They helped me a lot when I was in a lot of pain in the beginning, and now I feel great thanks to them. Good place to go for physical therapy.”
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Exercise of the Month
TOWEL PULL
Sit or stand tall and place a rolled towel behind your head, holding each end with your hands in front of you. Gently pull the towel forward and downward to support your head as you slowly extend your neck backward, looking up toward the ceiling. Use the towel for support—not force. Return to the starting position.
3 Sets, 10 Reps. (Materials needed: towel)
You Deserve to Feel Your Best!
Ready to continue your progress? Schedule your next appointment with Terry Physical Therapy today, and let’s get you back to feeling your best! Whether you’re recovering from an injury or maintaining your wellness, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
3 Gardening Tips!
After a long winter of being stuck inside, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of your health and make sure you’re engaging in physical activities.
Gardening is an enjoyable way to get active, especially in the spring! Nothing beats the smell of blooming flowers, fresh air, and warm sunshine.
Here are a few tips to ensure you avoid injury and make the most out of gardening this season.
1. Warm up first
Like any other physical activity, it is crucial to warm up before gardening. Morning gardeners need to make sure to walk around, or at least be up and moving, for about 45 minutes before starting any bending or lifting.
2. Practice proper technique
One of the most common mistakes gardeners make is with their technique. Your back is incredibly strong and resilient when you maintain its natural curves. In the lower back, the curve you need to maintain is called lordosis.
When you stick your butt out, you will naturally increase the curve, a.k.a lordosis, and protect your back from injuries. Whether you are working with a shovel, rake, or spade, it is vital to keep your curves intact. Also, when bending to pull weeds, it is better to kneel or squat so you can maintain the straight spine position and protect your back.
3. Take breaks
Taking frequent breaks or alternating tasks such as digging, lifting, and walking is beneficial for your body. Adding in some simple backbends before starting can also help decrease your risk of pain or injury.
Are you ready to enjoy gardening this season? Practicing these three tips will help you prevent injury and make the most out of this season!
June Word Scramble
brerireastws
aaointcv
unesecnsr
emrmus
dnelomea
iaordungta
Answer Key
strawberries
vacation
sunscreen
summer
lemonade
graduation
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Meet Our Team
Administration
Marsha Terry
RN MSN- Administrator
Letty Rosales
Office Manager
Monica Gutierrez
Billing Manager
