Elbow Wrist & Hand Pain Treatment

You don’t realize how much you rely on your elbows, wrists, and hands until every movement hurts. By the time you’ve showered, gotten dressed, and driven to work, you’ve already used them hundreds of times — and when pain is part of every one of those movements, even the simplest daily tasks become a struggle. At Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab, our physical therapists at our South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier clinics provide targeted, hands-on care to relieve elbow, wrist, and hand pain — and get you back to doing what you need to do without limitation.

Understanding Elbow, Wrist & Hand Pain

Pain in the elbow, wrist, or hand can be acute — the result of a sudden injury — or chronic, developing gradually from repetitive stress, illness, or degenerative conditions. The intensity can range from a mild, intermittent ache to severe, constant pain that makes work and daily activities nearly impossible. Many patients also experience accompanying symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in the fingers and hand — signs that nerve involvement may be a factor.

The sheer complexity of this region — encompassing dozens of bones, joints, tendons, muscles, and nerves from the elbow to the fingertips — means that pain can originate from a wide variety of sources. Accurate diagnosis is essential to effective treatment, and that’s exactly where we start.

Common Causes of Elbow, Wrist & Hand Pain

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) – Affecting approximately 5% of all Americans according to the American Physical Therapy Association, CTS occurs when the carpal tunnel in the wrist becomes constricted, compressing the median nerve and causing pain, tingling, and weakness that can radiate up the entire arm. It is commonly associated with repetitive tasks such as typing, assembly-line work, and operating heavy machinery
  • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome – The second most common nerve compression injury in the upper extremity, cubital tunnel syndrome results from repetitive pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow — commonly known as the “funny bone.” Symptoms include intense pain, tingling, and numbness in the elbow, forearm, and hand
  • Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow (Lateral & Medial Epicondylitis) – Overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons causes inflammation at the point where they attach to the elbow. Tennis elbow affects the outer elbow; golfer’s elbow affects the inner elbow. Both are common in athletes and workers who perform repetitive gripping or swinging motions
  • Elbow Bursitis – Compression or repeated irritation of the bursa sac at the tip of the elbow causes swelling, tenderness, and pain. Common in individuals who lean on hard surfaces for extended periods or sustain a direct blow to the elbow
  • Arthritis – Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the joints of the elbow, wrist, and hand, causing stiffness, swelling, and chronic pain that interferes with grip strength and fine motor tasks
  • Sprains and Strains – Stretched or torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles in the elbow, wrist, or hand are among the most common sports and work-related injuries, causing acute pain and reduced function

    How Physical Therapy Treats Elbow, Wrist & Hand Pain

    Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for the full spectrum of elbow, wrist, and hand conditions — and in many cases, it helps patients avoid surgery altogether. Carpal tunnel syndrome, for example, often responds extremely well to conservative physical therapy treatment when addressed early.

    At Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab, your physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation to identify the precise source of your pain before building a customized treatment plan designed around your diagnosis, lifestyle, and recovery goals.

    Your treatment plan may include:

    • Manual Therapy – Hands-on joint mobilization and soft tissue techniques to restore normal mechanics, reduce pain, and improve mobility throughout the elbow, wrist, and hand
    • Therapeutic Exercise – Targeted strengthening and range of motion exercises to rebuild function, restore grip strength, and prevent re-injury
    • Functional Dry Needling – Addresses trigger points and muscular tension contributing to pain and restricted movement in the forearm and hand
    • Nerve Mobilization Techniques – Specialized treatment to reduce nerve compression and restore normal neural function in conditions like carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome
    • Stretching and Flexibility Work – Targeted stretching protocols to restore mobility and reduce tightness in the muscles and connective tissues of the forearm, wrist, and hand
    • Thermal and Modality Treatments – Heat, ice, and ultrasound therapy to manage inflammation, reduce pain, and promote tissue healing
    • Activity and Ergonomic Modification – Identifying the workplace habits, movement patterns, or equipment contributing to your condition and correcting them to prevent recurrence

    Restore Function. Relieve Pain. Get Back to Your Life.

    Elbow, wrist, and hand pain doesn’t have to dictate what you can and can’t do. The team at Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab is ready to help, with locations in South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier, LA serving patients throughout the Shreveport-Bossier community.

    Contact us today to request your appointment and start your recovery.