Physical Therapy for Arm Pain
Whether you’re experiencing arm pain from an injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or a sprain, it’s certainly no fun. Our arms are complex. With the expansive range of motion our hands, elbows, and shoulders give us, it’s no surprise that experiencing pain in that area is common. How can physical therapy reduce arm pain? How can physical therapy treat and diagnose arm pain? Find out now.
Causes of Arm Pain
The first stage to any physical therapy program is understanding the root of the pain. Pain from the hand, elbow, or shoulder tends to radiate to other areas. So it takes careful attention and expertise to diagnose exactly what part needs to be addressed. If you’re experiencing a numbness or tingly feeling in your hands, there’s a good chance you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Work that involves typing or gripping (operating a lawn mower, hair clippers, working with animals, etc.) makes you far more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome from the constant stress put on your ligaments.
Another common cause of arm pain is tennis elbow. Don’t just cross this one off of the list if you’ve never played tennis, cause it can still get you. Tennis elbow makes the tendons in your arm and around your elbow swollen, creating a pain that starts from your outer elbow and moves to the forearms and wrists. While it is common amongst tennis players, it stems from overuse and repeated contraction of the forearm muscles. This is likely to affect persons working with their hands, such as carpenters, painters, butchers, and more. The pain from tennis elbow is usually associated with a gripping and twisting motion, such as turning door knobs, using a screwdriver, or opening jars.
These are just a couple of common reasons for arm pain, but the list is endless. It’s important for a licensed physical therapist to examine your arm to assess which part of it is experiencing pain, what motions you’re struggling to perform, and where you might be lacking strength. Attempting to address the pain yourself might result in some relief, but not ultimately solve the problem.
A study conducted in 2015 revealed that physical therapy and surgery produced near the same results for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, physical therapy led to better outcomes in the short term.
Treatment for Arm Pain
Your Physical Therapist will examine your arm’s functionality and combine those findings with your individual goals to create a tailored therapy program. They’ll put together a plan that focuses on reducing inflammation, relieving pressure, and training your muscles properly. Often, ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow only come about because of improper form. If your pain or injury is related to your work, your Physical Therapist isn’t going to ask you to quit your job. He’s going to work on strengthening the muscles around your injury and training you to use them properly.
Physical therapy is a safe, effective, non-surgical method for treating arm pain. Since physical therapy is based on a combination of stretches, exercises, and ingraining healthy postural habits, it’s effective for preventing further pain as well. The exact exercises and whether they will include other parts of the body depends on the cause of pain, as well as other patient circumstances.
Physical therapy for arm pain will typically include:
- Wrist, finger, and forearm stretches designed to maximize range of motion.
- Exercises designed to strengthen your muscles and stabilize the area.
- Therapy to improve blood flow to the tendons.
- Hands-on physical therapy and treatments such as Blood Flow Restriction Therapy.
- Carefully crafted home exercise program.
Your physical therapist is there to guide you every step of the way. An experienced physical therapist knows exactly what questions to ask and signs to look for.
Why Visit a Physical Therapist for Arm Pain?
Your physical therapist is there to help you master your technique. With improper form, the same exercises that are designed to heal you could actually harm you. By using the wrong muscles, favoring one side of the body, or improperly balancing your weight, such exercises can have a completely different effect on your body. Your physical therapist is there to guide you every step of the way. An experienced physical therapist knows exactly what questions to ask and signs to look for, indicating you’re executing the exercise properly.
What can physical therapy do for arm pain?
- Increase range of motion
- Provide pain relief within days
- Prevent recurring pain or worsening pain
- Reduce pain or stiffness of the arm
Best Physical Therapy in Reading, PA
When you plan a visit to our office, you’ll be seen by our physical therapist, Joe Miller. Joe has spent over 30-years serving patients in the Reading and Berks area. He’ll listen to your symptoms and concerns, conduct a careful assessment, and put together a care plan to get you feeling your best. He’ll guide you through every step of your physical therapy plan. You won’t be caught off guard by any methods or treatment technique. We keep our patients informed and comfortable throughout their entire appointment. If you’re experiencing recurring or worsening pain in your arm, plan your visit and start feeling some relief.
