Elbow pain doesn’t always come from one obvious event. The elbow is a hardworking joint – it handles load, rotation, and repetitive movement day in and day out, and over time that can take its toll.

Common causes we see include:

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia) – one of the most common sources of pain on the outside elbow, caused by overload of the forearm tendons where they attach at the outer elbow. You don’t have to play tennis to get it

Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylalgia) – inside elbow pain caused by strain on the tendons on the inner side, often from gripping, lifting, or throwing

Elbow tendon pain – overuse or degeneration of the tendons around the elbow joint, which can develop gradually without any single injury moment

Bursitis – inflammation of the small fluid-filled sac at the back of the elbow, causing swelling and tenderness

Elbow pain when bending and straightening arm – often linked to joint inflammation, loose bodies, or soft tissue restriction that limits full range of motion

Referred pain from the neck or upper back – pain in the upper left arm between the elbow and shoulder, or nerve-related symptoms like tingling and weakness, can originate from the cervical spine rather than the elbow itself

Nerve entrapment – the ulnar nerve (your ‘funny bone’ nerve) can become compressed, causing aching, numbness, or shooting pain into the forearm and hand

Stress fractures or joint degeneration – less common, but important to rule out when elbow joint pain doesn’t respond to initial treatment

Let’s be honest – sometimes there’s no clear ‘injury moment.’ Your elbow might just start aching during or after activity, and that’s actually very common. What matters most is understanding what’s keeping it painful and how to fix it.

Physio treatment for elbow pain is about more than just settling symptoms – it’s about understanding why your elbow hurts and addressing the load, movement, and strength issues driving the problem.

When you come to BodyViva for an elbow pain assessment, we’ll take time to understand your pain patterns, test your movement and strength, and identify exactly what’s contributing to your discomfort. No guesswork, no generic resistance band handouts.

What physio for elbow pain at BodyViva looks like:

• Hands-on treatment – joint mobilisation, soft tissue release, and manual techniques to reduce pain and restore movement through the elbow
• Personalised exercise programs – progressive loading and strengthening that targets the specific tendons and muscles involved, whether that’s elbow tendon pain, tennis elbow pain, or inside elbow pain
• Movement retraining – learning how to grip, lift, and use your arm in ways that reduce load on the painful structures
• Pain education – understanding what’s happening in your elbow helps reduce fear and speeds up recovery, particularly for persistent conditions like tennis elbow
• Dry needling and acupuncture – releasing tight forearm muscles and reducing inflammation when appropriate
• Neck and upper limb assessment – because pain in the outer elbow or pain in the upper left arm between elbow and shoulder is sometimes driven by the neck, we always look at the bigger picture

Our physiotherapists work with you at every stage – whether you’re dealing with acute elbow joint pain right now, or you’ve been managing something that flares up with every workout. We’ve found that the best results come when patients feel supported, informed, and confident in their recovery plan.

If your elbow pain is linked to joint restriction, nerve irritation, or the way load travels through your neck, shoulder, and arm, chiropractic care can make a real difference.

Our chiropractors don’t just look at the elbow in isolation. Pain in the outer elbow, inside elbow pain, or elbow pain when bending and straightening the arm can all be influenced by restricted movement higher up the chain – particularly the cervical spine and shoulder. Addressing these areas is often the missing piece.

What chiropractic treatment for elbow pain looks like at BodyViva:

• Joint adjustments and mobilisation – precise, hands-on techniques to restore movement in the elbow joint and the joints of the neck, upper back, and shoulder that influence it
• Nerve assessment and treatment – identifying whether nerve irritation is contributing to your elbow tendon pain or referred arm symptoms
• Postural assessment – understanding how your posture and upper body mechanics might be overloading your elbow
  Tailored advice – practical guidance on activity modification, workstation setup, and recovery strategies

Chiropractic care works particularly well for elbow joint pain that has a mechanical component, or when pain in the outer elbow or inside elbow pain is connected to restricted movement in the neck and upper back. Many patients notice improvement quickly, especially when combined with massage or physio rehabilitation.

Our chiropractors work alongside our physiotherapists and massage therapists, so your treatment is always coordinated. If we think you’d benefit from a combination approach, we’ll let you know.

The forearm muscles that attach at the elbow are some of the most chronically overworked in the body – especially if you spend long hours typing, gripping tools, or training. Tension builds up slowly, and before long you’re dealing with pain on the outside elbow or inside elbow pain that won’t settle on its own.

Massage for elbow pain at BodyViva isn’t just about feeling better in the short term. It’s a targeted clinical treatment that works on the muscles, tendons, and fascia contributing to your elbow joint pain.

What massage for elbow pain can do:

• Release tight forearm and upper arm muscles that are pulling on the tendons at the elbow
• Improve circulation and reduce inflammation in areas of elbow tendon pain
• Break down scar tissue or adhesions from old strains or repetitive overuse
• Calm an overloaded nervous system when pain has been ongoing for weeks or months
• Prepare your body for movement and progressive loading as part of your rehab plan

Our massage therapists work closely with our physios and chiropractors to make sure your treatment makes sense as a whole. Sometimes, loosening up the soft tissue around the elbow is exactly what’s needed before strength work can begin. Other times, regular massage is an important part of managing chronic elbow pain alongside an active exercise programme.

We’ve seen patients come in unable to grip a coffee cup without pain, and leave feeling significantly better after their first session. It doesn’t fix everything, but it absolutely helps your body reset and start healing.