Chiropractic Care For Elbow Pain Treatment

You pick up your coffee cup, and your elbow hurts.

You carry a grocery bag and feel discomfort along your forearm.

Maybe playing golf, tennis, pickleball, gardening, or lifting weights has become uncomfortable.

Or perhaps you've never played golf or tennis, but someone mentioned that you might have golfer's elbow or tennis elbow.

Elbow pain can interfere with activities you rarely think about until they become difficult; gripping, lifting, carrying, typing, opening a jar, exercising, or working with your hands.

Sometimes the discomfort develops gradually. Other times, it begins after an injury or a change in activity.

At Stojanovich Chiropractic in Walnut Creek, California, Dr. Nick Stojanovich evaluates elbow pain and related musculoskeletal conditions to determine what may be contributing to your symptoms and whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate.

Understanding why your elbow hurts is the first step toward deciding what to do about it.

Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis or lateral elbow tendinopathy, involves the tendons near the outside of the elbow.

Despite its name, you don't have to play tennis to develop this condition.

Tennis elbow may occur with repeated gripping, lifting, twisting, or wrist movements.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain along the outside of the elbow

• Tenderness near the outer elbow

• Discomfort when gripping objects

• Pain when lifting a coffee cup or grocery bag

• Symptoms when using tools or exercising

• Discomfort during tennis, pickleball, or similar activities

Tennis elbow is often associated with changes in tendon tissue and its response to loading rather than simply active inflammation.

An evaluation helps distinguish it from other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.

Sometimes elbow pain begins after a fall, sudden pull, direct impact, lifting injury, or sports-related incident.

An injury may involve tendons, muscles, ligaments, the joint, or bone.

If you experience significant swelling, visible deformity, inability to move the elbow, or severe pain following an injury, prompt medical evaluation may be necessary.

Not every injured elbow is appropriate for immediate chiropractic treatment.

Determining whether additional medical evaluation or imaging is needed comes first.

Your appointment begins with a conversation about what you're experiencing and how it's affecting your daily activities.

Dr. Nick Stojanovich may ask:

When did your elbow pain begin?

Was there a particular injury or activity?

Does the pain occur on the inside or outside of your elbow?

Does gripping make it worse?

What about lifting, twisting, or exercising?

Do you experience discomfort at rest?

Have you noticed swelling or stiffness?

Do you have tingling or numbness in your hand or fingers?

Does your neck or shoulder also hurt?

Have you recently changed your exercise routine or workload?

Your examination may include assessment of elbow movement, tenderness, muscle and tendon function, grip-related symptoms, and appropriate neurological findings.

The wrist, forearm, shoulder, or cervical spine may also be evaluated when your symptoms suggest those areas could be relevant.

The purpose is to determine what appears to be contributing to your symptoms and whether chiropractic care is appropriate.

Not everyone with elbow pain needs imaging.

Many common tendon-related elbow conditions can be evaluated through a medical history and physical examination.

However, imaging may be appropriate when there is significant trauma, concern for fracture, unusual swelling, persistent symptoms, or other findings that require additional investigation.

If Dr. Stojanovich believes diagnostic imaging is necessary, he can discuss the appropriate next step or refer you for imaging.

Chiropractic care isn't limited to the spine.

Dr. Nick Stojanovich also evaluates and provides chiropractic care for appropriate extremity conditions, including musculoskeletal complaints involving the elbow.

Depending on your symptoms and examination findings, treatment may include appropriate extremity chiropractic techniques, manual approaches, and recommendations related to movement or activity.

Care is individualized based on the condition being addressed, your health history, examination findings, and personal goals.

Not every patient with elbow pain needs an adjustment.

And not every case of elbow pain is appropriate for chiropractic treatment.

The evaluation helps determine which approach makes sense.

What Is the Most Common Cause of Elbow Pain?

Elbow pain can involve tendons, muscles, joints, ligaments, nerves, or injuries. Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are two common tendon-related conditions, but they aren't the only possible causes.

What's the Difference Between Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow?

Tennis elbow typically involves tendons near the outside of the elbow. Golfer's elbow involves tendons near the inside. Both can affect gripping and lifting activities.

Can You Get Tennis Elbow Without Playing Tennis?

Yes. Tennis elbow can develop in people who perform repeated gripping, lifting, twisting, or wrist movements, including during work, hobbies, and exercise.

Can You Get Golfer's Elbow Without Playing Golf?

Absolutely. Golfer's elbow can occur during many activities involving the forearm muscles and tendons, including lifting, gripping, gardening, and repetitive work.

Why Does My Elbow Hurt When I Lift a Coffee Cup?

Lifting a cup requires the forearm muscles and tendons to work together. Tendon-related conditions can make these movements uncomfortable, although other causes are possible.

Why Does My Elbow Hurt When I Grip Something?

Gripping places demands on the muscles and tendons around the elbow. Symptoms may involve a tendon condition, joint problem, or other musculoskeletal issue.

Can Pickleball Cause Tennis Elbow?

Pickleball can place repetitive demands on the forearm and elbow. Changes in playing frequency, intensity, or physical conditioning may contribute to symptoms in some players.

Can Elbow Pain Cause Tingling in My Fingers?

Certain nerve-related conditions around the elbow can produce tingling or numbness in the hand or fingers. These symptoms deserve evaluation rather than being automatically attributed to a tendon problem.

Can Neck Problems Cause Elbow Pain?

Yes. Certain cervical nerve conditions can produce symptoms that extend into the arm, including around the elbow. Local elbow conditions can produce similar pain, so examination matters.

Can a Chiropractor Treat Tennis Elbow or Golfer's Elbow?

Chiropractors who provide extremity care may evaluate and treat appropriate musculoskeletal conditions involving the elbow. Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis, examination findings, and individual clinical needs.

Does Elbow Pain Always Require an Adjustment?

No. Treatment depends on the condition and examination findings. An adjustment isn't automatically necessary or appropriate for every elbow complaint.

Can Cold Laser or Ultrasound Be Used for Elbow Pain?

These modalities may be considered in selected cases, but their effectiveness varies by condition and treatment protocol. They shouldn't be assumed to be necessary or effective for every patient.

Do I Need an X-Ray for Elbow Pain?

Not automatically. Imaging decisions depend on your symptoms, injury history, examination findings, and other clinical considerations.

Should I Rest My Elbow or Keep Moving?

That depends on the condition. Appropriate activity modification and gradual loading may be useful for some tendon complaints, while an acute injury may require different precautions.

When Should I Worry About Elbow Pain?

Severe pain following injury, significant swelling, deformity, inability to use the arm, fever with a hot swollen joint, or progressive neurological symptoms requires prompt medical evaluation.