Physical Therapy Solutions for Bursitis of the Elbow

Elbow bursitis is a painful inflammation that presents as the elbow joint swelling up.

Elbow bursitis is a painful inflammation that presents as the elbow joint swelling up. This condition occurs from injury, repetitive motions, elbow surgery, infection, or autoimmune diseases. Patients with elbow bursitis experience pain, discomfort, swelling, and stiffness on the tip or back of the elbow, preventing them from full arm function.

While elbow bursitis is a common sports injury, it can also occur due to poor posture or doing physically challenging activities repeatedly. Medication, rest, and physical therapy are effective treatments if the elbow is not infected.

Depending on the severity of the injury, elbow bursitis can heal from two to eight weeks with the help of physical therapy. Physical therapy offers multi-tiered assistance to alleviate elbow bursitis symptoms and consequences.

Reduced swelling and discomfort

Physical therapy's primary benefit is reducing pain, discomfort, and swelling. Furthermore, the beginning of each physical therapy session is usually the most challenging for the patient.

Before doing any exercises, the physical therapist and patient must develop a specific treatment program. The health care provider will assess what the patient with elbow bursitis can and can't do before coming up with various active and passive exercises. This phase of treatment is usually combined with anti-pain medication.

Once the pain and the swelling around the elbow joint are reduced, the patient will be able to do more challenging exercises at the physical therapy clinic and home.

Restored motion

The main goal of physical therapy is to get your elbow back to normal and restore your field of motion as soon as possible. Once the swelling is under control, the patient starts with passive exercises and stretches. Then, as the patient gets better, they can do more active exercises. These can include moving their arm up and down, holding it in the air for 30 seconds, twisting their wrist in both directions, bending the elbow, and similar movements.

Improved flexibility and endurance

Various exercises and stretches will help improve the patient's flexibility and endurance. Such exercises may be challenging and painful for the patient at first, which is why they usually last for 20 to 30 seconds. However, as the patient's flexibility improves, the exercises will require them to use more strength, which enhances endurance as well.

Strengthened muscles

Finally, once the injury is completely healed, the patient can perform exercises that improve their elbow strength. At this stage of physical therapy, the health care provider may even suggest using equipment to restore the patient's elbow strength.

Treat elbow bursitis with physical therapy

Elbow bursitis is a common injury resulting from direct trauma or harmful repetitive motions during a particular activity. In rare cases, elbow bursitis requires surgery. But most of the time, it's easily treatable by combining rest, medication, and physical therapy.

If you have elbow bursitis, don't do anything by yourself. Instead, seek medical attention and talk to a professional health care provider to develop a detailed physical therapy plan.

Liberated Rehabilitation is a mobile physical therapy service in the Phoenix metro area specializing in fully personalized in-home physical therapy. We provide tailored physical therapy in the home or work setting for faster, better recovery. Call (602)755-2276 to schedule an appointment.