Elbow pain is a common complaint, especially when it comes to working out. Many athletic pursuits engage the muscles and tendons of the forearm and elbow, causing repeated muscle contractions that can lead to irritation. Eventually, this irritation can result in inflammation and injury, both of which can cause a great deal of pain.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is one of the more common causes of elbow pain that can result from working out. It develops from the overuse of the muscles in your forearm. Athletic pursuits that cause you to repeatedly move your wrist trigger muscle contractions in the forearm that may eventually lead to small tears in the tendon near the elbow. These tears cause inflammation and subsequent pain.
Golfer's Elbow
Golfer's elbow is another common cause of elbow pain. Like tennis elbow, it develops as a result of repeated wrist movements that cause muscle contractions in the forearm. This can lead to small tears in the tendon to the inside of your elbow. Golf is the main reason for this condition, but any activity in which you throw a ball or lift a weighted object can trigger golfer's elbow.
Bursitis
Overusing the elbow can also result in bursitis. This condition affects the bursa, or the fluid-filled cushions that reduce the friction of bones and tendons in a joint. Repeatedly bending and straightening the arm can eventually irritate the bursa, leading to inflammation and pain.
Elbow Strain
The elbow pain you're experiencing could also be the result of a muscle or tendon strain. In this situation, your chosen activity has caused the affected muscle or tendon to stretch beyond its normal limit. This can bring about a partial tear that leads to inflammation and pain.
Treatment
Any one of these conditions can respond favorably to self-care measures. Resting the affected elbow is often the first line of treatment. Icing and compressing the pained elbow is your next order of business. Ice for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Longer administration could exacerbate the injury. As pain resolves, you can then go back to your normal workout. However, talk to a doctor to determine the exact cause of your elbow pain.
