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The elbow is a complex hinge joint connecting your upper arm (humerus) to your forearm bones (ulnar and radius). It allows you to bend, straighten, and rotate your arm, making it essential for daily activities like lifting, typing, or playing sport.
While the joint is supported by strong ligaments and muscles, it is still prone to overuse, impact, and repetitive strain injuries. Whether your pain is from sport, work, or everyday tasks, our physiotherapists at Head2Toe can help identify the cause and get you back to pain-free movement.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Pain or tenderness on the inside or outside of the elbow
Weakness or difficulty gripping objects
Stiffness when bending or straightening the arm
Numbness or tingling radiating into the forearm or fingers
Swelling or heat around the elbow joint
Pain with lifting, typing, or twisting motions
Causes / Why It Happens
Elbow pain can develop from a sudden injury or from repetitive strain on muscles, tendons, or nerves around the joint.
Common causes include:
- Repetitive strain – frequent gripping, lifting, or wrist movements can irritate the tendons around the elbow.
- Tendon overload – conditions such as Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis) or Golfer’s Elbow (medial epicondylitis) occur when tendons become inflamed or degenerate from overuse.
- Trauma or falls – can cause fractures, dislocations, or ligament sprains.
- Biceps tendon injuries – from sudden heavy lifting or load.
- Nerve compression – particularly of the ulnar nerve, causing tingling or numbness down the forearm.
- Referred pain – stiffness or dysfunction in the neck or upper back can radiate to the elbow.
Why Choose Head2Toe?
Expert clinicians
our physiotherapists are trained to differentiate between local elbow conditions and referred pain.
Accurate diagnosis
we use specific tests to pinpoint the affected structure and underlying cause.
Personalised care
treatment plans are tailored to your work, sport, and activity demands.
Hands-on and exercise-based
we combine manual therapy, movement retraining, and strengthening to ensure lasting results.
Collaborative management
we liaise with your GP or specialists if imaging or further investigations are required.
How We Treat It
At Head2Toe, we use a combination of hands-on therapy and targeted rehabilitation to restore your elbow’s movement, strength, and function.
Our treatments include:
- Joint mobilisation to recover lost range of motion
- Soft-tissue release of tight muscles and ligaments
- Electrotherapy to help reduce pain and swelling
- Neck mobilisation and nerve gliding if symptoms are referred
- Stretching and strengthening exercises to build resilience
- Activity modification advice to prevent flare-ups
If your injury is more severe — such as a fracture, dislocation, or tendon rupture — your physiotherapist will guide you on appropriate imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI) and communicate with your GP for further management.
What to Expect in Your Appointment
Your first appointment will focus on finding the exact cause of your elbow pain. You can expect:
- Detailed history and discussion about your symptoms, work, and daily activities.
- Physical examination – assessing joint range, tendon integrity, and nerve involvement.
- Diagnosis and explanation – we’ll clearly outline what’s happening and why.
- Immediate treatment – including manual therapy and education on how to reduce pain and irritation.
- Home program – targeted stretching and strengthening exercises, delivered via email or Physitrack.
- Follow-up plan – we’ll monitor your progress and adjust treatment as your function improves.
Highlight Patient Types
We commonly help:
- Office workers with overuse or typing-related tendon pain
- Tradespeople and manual workers exposed to repetitive lifting or gripping
- Athletes (tennis, golf, cricket, weightlifting) with elbow strain
- Post-fracture or post-surgical patients recovering mobility and strength
- Older adults with stiffness or arthritic changes
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a scan before seeing a physiotherapist?
Usually not. Most elbow injuries can be accurately diagnosed with a thorough physical examination. If needed, we’ll refer you for imaging.
Can physiotherapy fix Tennis or Golfer’s Elbow?
Yes. These conditions respond well to load management, strengthening, and hands-on therapy. Our goal is to restore tendon capacity and prevent recurrence.
Should I stop using my arm completely?
Not necessarily. Staying gently active helps promote healing. We’ll guide you on how to modify your activities safely.
Why does my elbow hurt even though I didn’t injure it?
Pain can come from overuse, muscle imbalance, or even referral from the neck or shoulder — we’ll determine which is contributing to your symptoms.
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What We Care For
Physiotherapy is the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. Some of the conditions we treat in Melbourne include:
Don’t let elbow pain hold you back
Book an appointment with one of our experienced physiotherapists today and take the first step toward restoring your strength, stability, and confidence.
42 Pascoe Vale Road, Moonee Ponds 3039