Elbow pain can make everyday activities surprisingly frustrating. Simple tasks such as lifting a kettle, opening a jar, carrying shopping or gripping the steering wheel can become painful.
Although many people immediately think of tennis elbow, there are several structures around the elbow that can become irritated. Understanding where your pain is coming from is the first step towards effective treatment.
The elbow is where the muscles of the forearm attach to the upper arm. Every time you grip, lift, type or use your hand, these muscles are working.
Repeated strain, heavy lifting, DIY projects, office work or sports can overload these tissues over time. Sometimes elbow pain develops suddenly after an injury, but more often it gradually appears after weeks or months of repetitive use.
Despite its name, tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia) affects far more office workers, tradespeople and gym-goers than tennis players.
Pain is felt on the outside of the elbow, where the wrist extensor muscles attach. These muscles work every time you grip, lift or extend your wrist.
Common symptoms include:
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylalgia) affects the inside of the elbow.
It develops in a similar way to tennis elbow but involves the muscles responsible for bending the wrist and gripping. Although golfers can develop it, it is also common in people who lift weights, climb, perform manual work or spend long periods gripping tools.
Symptoms often include:
The muscles that attach to the elbow also cross the wrist, and their function depends on the joints of the wrist, elbow and forearm moving efficiently together.
When one or more of these joints become stiff, the surrounding muscles often compensate by working harder, leading to increased tension and protective muscle guarding. Over time, this can place greater strain on the tendons where they attach to the elbow.
At The Third Space, we assess the entire upper limb rather than focusing only on the painful tendon. Gentle chiropractic adjustments aim to restore normal movement to the joints that support these muscles, reduce unnecessary muscle guarding and help distribute forces more evenly through the arm.
This can help improve movement, reduce irritation and support the body’s natural recovery.
Whether you’re struggling with tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow or persistent elbow pain that won’t settle, a thorough assessment can help identify the underlying cause.
At The Third Space in Amsterdam-Oost, we provide personalised chiropractic care to help reduce pain, improve function and get you back to work, sport and everyday life.
