Physical Therapy — Elbow & Hand
Precision rehab, one-on-one from the start.
Tennis elbow is a tendon problem. Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel are nerve problems. A trigger finger is neither, exactly. Same neighborhood (elbow, wrist, hand) but completely different mechanisms, and treating the wrong one doesn't just fail to help, but can even prolong the pain. That's why we don't guess: every evaluation is a full hour, one-on-one, with a licensed physical therapist who can tell a tendon issue from a nerve issue before building your plan.
Understanding Your Pain
What's actually causing your elbow or hand pain?
The elbow, wrist, and hand rely on a dense network of bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves working together. Pain can come from repetitive overuse, nerve compression, trauma, or age-related joint wear.
Repetitive Overuse & Strain
Typing, manual labor, racquet sports, golf, and repetitive gripping can gradually irritate the tendons of the elbow, wrist, and hand.
Nerve Compression
Nerves that run through the elbow, forearm, and wrist can become trapped or irritated, causing numbness, tingling, or weakness that shows up down the arm and into the fingers.
Trauma, Fractures & Dislocations
Falls, sports injuries, and other traumatic events can injure the ligaments, tendons, or bones of the elbow, wrist, or hand in an instant.
Arthritis & Joint Wear
Age-related wear and tear on the elbow, wrist, or hand joints can bring on pain, swelling, reduced mobility, and decreased grip strength.
What We Treat
Common elbow, wrist & hand conditions we treat.
Tennis & Golfer's Elbow
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) irritates the tendon on the outside of the elbow; golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) irritates the tendon on the inside. Both are overuse injuries of the tendons that control the wrist and fingers.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the median nerve at the wrist that can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in the hand and fingers.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow, often causing numbness or tingling that radiates into the ring and pinky fingers.
Tendon Disorders of the Wrist & Hand
Conditions such as De Quervain's tenosynovitis and trigger finger can cause pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving the thumb or fingers.
Arthritis of the Elbow, Wrist & Hand
Joint wear and tear that can lead to pain, swelling, reduced mobility, and decreased grip strength.
Fractures, Dislocations & Post-Surgical Rehab
Structured rehabilitation after injuries like a radial head or humerus fracture, UCL reconstruction, or biceps tendon repair, guided by the surgeon's specific protocol.
Next Steps
What to do about it.
A short list of what to try first, and the warning signs that mean this needs more than at-home care.
What to do about it.
- 1
Rule out the red flag symptoms first (see Red Flag Symptoms) before assuming this is routine soreness.
- 2
Modify whatever's aggravating it, especially repetitive gripping, typing, or racquet and throwing sports, but keep gentle movement going.
- 3
Physical therapy is one of the most evidence-based, effective first-line treatments for elbow, wrist, and hand pain, whether it's from overuse, injury, or post-surgical recovery.
- 4
One-on-one care matters here: a licensed physical therapist can tell the difference between tennis elbow, cubital tunnel syndrome, and a nerve issue at the neck showing up in the arm, conditions that can feel similar but need very different treatment.
Red flag symptoms.
Visible deformity or inability to move the elbow, wrist, or fingers after an injury
Significant swelling following a fall or trauma
Numbness, tingling, or weakness spreading into the hand or fingers
Redness, warmth, fever, or other signs of infection
Skin discoloration around the injured area
Seek medical evaluation if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above.
Our Approach
Physical therapy treatment for elbow & hand pain.
Every session is spent one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist, not shared between patients or handed off to an aide. That's what makes it possible to tell tennis elbow, cubital tunnel syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome apart, and build the plan around the right one.
Manual Therapy
Joint mobilization and soft tissue treatment to improve mobility and reduce pain in the elbow, wrist, and hand.
Exercise Therapy
Targeted stretching and strengthening to restore flexibility, grip strength, and dexterity for daily activities and sport.
Adjunct Therapies
Wellness modalities like infrared sauna, cold plunge, and Normatec compression to further support recovery and injury prevention.
Return to Performance
Performance training geared toward a safe return to work, sport, or activity after discharge from physical therapy.
Surgical Evaluation
Need to see a surgeon first?
If the elbow, wrist, or hand injury requires surgical evaluation, our partners at BONE DRs are right upstairs. We'll coordinate everything.
FAQ
Common elbow and hand questions.
Elbow & Hand Rehab
Start your recovery today.
Book your first session and start working one-on-one with a PT who builds your plan around your elbow and hand, not a generic protocol.