Elbow pain from lifting is a common symptom among individuals who lift weights, heavy objects, children, grocery bags, etc. Depending on the underlying cause, can conservative treatments relieve and heal elbow pain?

 

Elbow Pain Caused By Lifting

Elbow pain from lifting can result from weight training, repetitive daily tasks, or job duties like lifting small children or heavy objects. Pain can occur on the sides or front of the elbow. Most minor cases can be treated at home with ice, rest, and medication. However, pain after lifting can also signal a serious injury, such as a tendon rupture/tear.

Minor Pain From Lifting

Lifting puts pressure on the tendons connecting the wrist and upper arm to the bones in the elbow joint. Minor elbow pain can occur from temporary inflammation in any of these structures after lifting an object. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed, often from overuse or lifting something too heavy, and can range from mild to severe. Mild tendonitis typically causes pain during the activity and improves with rest. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2020) Common forms of tendonitis include:

• Tennis elbow – tendonitis on the outside of the elbow
• Golfer’s elbow – tendonitis on the inside of the elbow.
• Biceps tendonitis – at the front of the elbow. (Kheiran A. Pandey, A. & Pandey R. 2021)

Self-Care

Self-care can help reduce elbow pain after lifting and includes: (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2020)

Ice

• Add ice to the affected area for up to 20 minutes daily to decrease elbow pain.

Rest

• Avoid lifting heavy objects as much as possible when you have pain.

Wearing A Brace

• If the pain is in the tendons on the inside or outside of your elbow, try wearing a wrist brace to limit the use of your wrist muscles that connect to this area.

Stretching

Gently stretching the wrist flexors and extensors can help reduce elbow pain after lifting. You can do these stretches several times daily, even after symptoms have resolved. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2024)

• Hold the arm out in front with the palm down. Keep the elbow straight.
• Bend the wrist down so that the fingers are pointing toward the ground.
• With the other hand, gently pull the wrist down until you feel a stretch along the back of the forearm.
• Hold this position for 15 seconds.
• Repeat five times.
• Next, bend the wrist upward so the fingers point toward the ceiling.
• Using the other hand, gently pull the hand backward until you feel the stretch in the front of the forearm.
• Hold for 15 seconds.
• Repeat five times.

Medication

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help manage elbow pain caused by lifting and include: (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2023)

• Advil/Motrin – ibuprofen
• Aleve – naproxen
• Bayer – aspirin
• Tylenol – acetaminophen

Healing

Mild cases can improve after a few days of self-care, whereas more pronounced elbow symptoms can take several weeks, months, or even a year. (Kheiran A. Pandey, A. & Pandey R. 2021) If self-care doesn’t work, physical therapy may be recommended. A physical therapy team can use various modalities and treatments to help reduce pain and inflammation from elbow injuries. The therapy can include targeted exercises to strengthen weak muscles and stretch tight muscles that might contribute to the condition. In addition, the therapy team will help individuals modify their lifting technique to help prevent further injury.

Moderate to Severe Elbow Pain

In addition to sharp, severe pain, serious elbow pain caused by lifting has distinct symptoms, including: (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2022)

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Elbow weakness that happens suddenly.

A biceps tendon rupture is a rare but serious injury usually caused by lifting. In addition to other visible signs of the injury, there will be a bulge at the top of the upper arm because the muscle bunches up as it is no longer attached to the elbow. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2022) Individuals may hear an audible popping sound if an elbow ligament or tendon is torn while lifting. (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2024)

Treatment

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury, but most cases resolve on their own with rest and, if necessary, physical therapy. Severe pain requires an orthopedic surgeon’s expertise. These physicians specialize in treating musculoskeletal system injuries. Imaging such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans is often used to determine the extent of damage. Individuals with tendon or ligament tears in the elbow may need surgery to regain full range of motion and strength in their arm. After surgery, physical therapy will help restore function.

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop an optimal health and wellness solution. We focus on what works for you to relieve pain, restore function, and prevent injury. For musculoskeletal pain, specialists like chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can help reduce pain through spinal adjustments that help the body realign. They can also work with other medical professionals to integrate a treatment plan that improves flexibility and mobility and resolves musculoskeletal issues.

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References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2020). Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/

Kheiran, A., Pandey, A., & Pandey, R. (2021). Common tendinopathies around the elbow; what does current evidence say?. Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma, 19, 216–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcot.2021.05.021

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2024). Therapeutic exercise program for epicondylitis (tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow). https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/globalassets/pdfs/2024-therapeutic-exercise-program-for-lateral-and-medial-epicondylitis.pdf

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2023). What are NSAIDs? https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/what-are-nsaids/

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2022). Biceps tendon tear at the elbow. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/biceps-tendon-tear-at-the-elbow

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024). Ulnar collateral ligament. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/ulnar-collateral-ligament-ucl-injuries-of-the-elbow