Possible causes of elbow pain
21 Mar 2023 • 11 min read
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Elbow pain can be one of the most irritating types of joint pain, especially because we use our arms and hands for pretty much everything we do!
So, if you are suffering from a sore elbow, read on to find out what exactly might be causing it.
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What could be causing elbow pain?
There are lots of reasons why you might have a sore elbow. You may have injured or strained it during exercise or heavy lifting, which can then lead to other issues.
Here are some of the possible causes of elbow pain:
Elbow tendonitis
Tendonitis is where a tendon swells after an injury, causing elbow joint pain and stiffness and even affecting movement.
You may also experience a grating or crackling feeling when you move it alongside swelling, with heat or redness.1
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
These two are so called as each can be caused by their respective sports and the different movements which are used for each.
They are overuse injuries which are caused by repetitive movements. Although the two conditions are quite similar, the main difference is that it affects tendons on different sides of the arm.
Tennis elbow affects the lateral epicondyle tendon whereas golfer’s elbow affects the medial epicondyle tendon. Because of this, tennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow and the forearm whereas golfer’s elbow is felt on the inner arm and elbow.2
Strains or sprains
Strains and sprains can happen when too much pressure is put on to your elbow and commonly come about during sports or when lifting heavy objects.
A strain is when muscles are stretched or torn. Whereas a sprain is when the same thing happens but to ligaments rather than muscles.3
Bursitis
Bursitis
The bones, tendons and muscles near your joints are cushioned with small, fluid-filled sacks called bursae.
When these become inflamed, they can cause bursitis. This is often brought on by frequent, repetitive movements such as leaning on your elbows for a long time or lifting something over your head repeatedly.
Signs of bursitis include the joint feeling achy and stiff, more pain with movement or pressure, swelling and redness.4
Keeping healthy bones and joints is important, especially if you’d like to try and reduce the amount of elbow pain you’re experiencing. Whether you have tennis elbow, elbow tendonitis, bursitis or a sprain, we hope you can find relief by trying some different ways to care for inflamed and stiff joints.
Either way, if you have any concerns about your elbow pain, it’s best to speak to a medical professional in the first instance.
Last Updated: 21st October 2020
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