Elbow, Hand & Wrist
Pain, tingling or numbness around the elbow, wrist or hand can often be a sign of an overuse injury. These symptoms can be caused by a range of issues, but they’re commonly associated with overloading tendons, muscles, and sometimes neural structures.
Overloading can occur in sports and through biomechanical issues, but it frequently presents as an issue for office workers. Repetitive actions – performed day in, day out – can have an accumulative, damaging effect over the long term. Whether it’s tennis-elbow or mouse-shoulder, pain and discomfort will impact upon your performance: both in sport and at the workplace.
We have 2 clinics in Melbourne’s CBD to choose from, one on Collins Street, the other on Queen Street.
Get in touch to book an appointment now.
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Our approach to elbow, arm and hand physiotherapy
Our experienced physiotherapists will assess the injury site in detail. We also review your posture in order to highlight simple physical changes that may assist with symptom resolution and injury prevention.
Additionally, our physios can make ergonomic suggestions to improve your daily experience of the office environment.
When should I see a physiotherapist?
If you’ve experienced any of the following signs or symptoms, we recommend you get in touch with the team as soon as possible:
- Severe, lasting pain in or around the hand, arm, or elbow.
- Tenderness on the outer bony part of the elbow.
- Pain worsening when grasping or holding an object.
- Numbness or pain in your hand, forearm or wrist.
- Inability to flex the wrist or grasp certain objects.
- Any kind of popping or snapping sound or sensation associated with an identifiable injury incident.
- Ongoing swelling or stiffness in the area.
- Grinding, clicking or cracking sounds associated with the movements of the joints.
Pain
Pain can vary from being:
- Dull/aching.
- Sharp/shooting/acute.
Onset
Onset may be:
- A sudden injury.
- Gradual, with no specific or identifiable ‘injury’.
Triggers
- Normal everyday activities.
- Overuse (i.e. gradually worsens throughout an activity)
- Rest: the affected area is in constant pain.
Sensations
- Stiffness.
- Swelling.
- Numbness or tingling.
- Weakness.
- Spasms.
- Clicking or stuttered motion.
Common conditions
There are many conditions that can affect the elbow, arm and hand. Some of the more common issues we treat in clinic include:
- Tennis elbow
- Golfers elbow
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
- Post-fracture rehabilitation
- Bursitis
- Post-dislocation rehabilitation
- Acute sprains and strains
- Postural problems
- Tendonitis
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Frequently-asked questions
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Diagnosis of any issue associated with the elbow, arm or hand involves comprehensive assessment. This incorporates medical history, physical examination, and medical tests like MRIs, x-rays or ultrasound (depending on the patient and issue). A physio will be able to determine diagnosis and create a treatment plan. If required, we can recommend you to specialised experts for additional examination and insight.
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One common component of treatment is manual therapy, which is used to regain normal joint mobility and to release tight or overactive muscle and connective tissue. This is essential in recapturing optimal tissue flexibility and joint fluidity.
The other aspect is the specific rehabilitation tailored to your personal circumstance, which involves education and retraining of biomechanics. This can include:
- Assessment of the affected area(s).
- Sitting and standing postural review.
- Development of specific treatment programs.
- Ergonomic or training recommendations to prevent recurrence.
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Every elbow, arm and hand issue is different, and every person will respond to rehabilitation and treatment differently. You’ll have a much better understanding of your recovery timeframe after meeting with one of our physios; establishing a clear diagnosis and relating it to your unique goals.
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Avoid any activity that aggravates the affected area. Get in touch with someone from our team as soon as possible to book a detailed assessment.
Get in touch to book an appointment now.
Contact us