What’s Causing My Elbow and Wrist Pain

And How Can Preferred Physical Therapy Associates Help?

— October 2025 —

When you come in for your appointment, the first thing we’ll do is carefully review your symptoms and run a few simple movement screens to help pinpoint the cause of your pain.

Overuse injuries are one of the more common causes of wrist and elbow pain. You’ve probably heard of conditions such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, both are examples of overuse injuries. They stem from repetitive movements or awkward postures that strain the joint’s soft tissue, leading to a gradual onset of symptoms.

You can also suffer acute injuries, particularly in the wrist. These injuries happen suddenly rather than over time. Wrist sprains, in which the ligaments in the wrist suffer damage, are among the most common. You can also fracture the bones in your wrist and elbow, which will typically require medical intervention.

Nerve disorders are another common source of discomfort in the elbow, forearm, and wrist. They occur when one of the nerves running through the arm becomes entrapped, leading to pain, numbness or tingling, and mobility restrictions. The location of your symptoms can let you know which nerve is affected:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve and can become trapped in a structure in your wrist (the carpal tunnel). You’ll typically experience symptoms in your wrist and hand.
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome affects the ulnar nerve, which passes through a narrow structure in your elbow (the cubital tunnel). If the nerve becomes entrapped in the cubital tunnel, it can cause symptoms in your elbow and hand.

Finally, arthritis can affect your elbows and wrists, leading to pain and restricted range of motion.

A Closer Look at the Causes of Wrist and Elbow Pain

When you come in for your appointment, the first thing we’ll do is carefully review your symptoms and run a few simple movement screens to help pinpoint the cause of your pain.

Overuse injuries are one of the more common causes of wrist and elbow pain. You’ve probably heard of conditions such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, both are examples of overuse injuries. They stem from repetitive movements or awkward postures that strain the joint’s soft tissue, leading to a gradual onset of symptoms.

You can also suffer acute injuries, particularly in the wrist. These injuries happen suddenly rather than over time. Wrist sprains, in which the ligaments in the wrist suffer damage, are among the most common. You can also fracture the bones in your wrist and elbow, which will typically require medical intervention.

Nerve disorders are another common source of discomfort in the elbow, forearm, and wrist. They occur when one of the nerves running through the arm becomes entrapped, leading to pain, numbness or tingling, and mobility restrictions. The location of your symptoms can let you know which nerve is affected:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve and can become trapped in a structure in your wrist (the carpal tunnel). You’ll typically experience symptoms in your wrist and hand.
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome affects the ulnar nerve, which passes through a narrow structure in your elbow (the cubital tunnel). If the nerve becomes entrapped in the cubital tunnel, it can cause symptoms in your elbow and hand.

Finally, arthritis can affect your elbows and wrists, leading to pain and restricted range of motion.

What Our Team Can Do to Help Ease Your Wrist and Elbow Pain

Once we’ve determined the source of your pain, we’ll develop a customized treatment program to help you find relief. 

At Preferred Physical Therapy Associates, we offer physical and occupational therapy, both of which are important in addressing wrist and elbow discomfort. Where physical therapy focuses on overall movement and function, occupational therapy focuses on helping you perform daily tasks, particularly those related to your upper extremities.

Here are a few of the techniques we might incorporate into your program:

  • Manual Therapy: Manual therapy techniques help reduce pain and restore mobility restrictions. We might guide the joint through its current range of motion, manipulate your soft tissue, or try other techniques.
  • Therapeutic Exercises: We’ll create a targeted, progressive exercise program to ease your symptoms. We’ll start with gentle stretches and mobility work, then move on to strengthening exercises to help support and stabilize the impacted joint.
  • Braces and Splints: Some conditions might benefit from a brace or splint, which temporarily immobilizes the joint as you work on treatment. Our occupational therapist can let you know if it’s a good choice and help you find the right device to suit your needs.
  • Injury Prevention: We’ll let you know what you can do to prevent future injuries. For example, our OT might show you ergonomic adjustments to reduce the impact of repetitive movements, while our PTs might guide you through postural corrections to minimize strain on your wrist or elbow, or other strategies.

Let’s Get to the Root of Your Wrist or Elbow Pain!

Pain in the wrist or elbow can seriously impact your quality of life, making it difficult to perform day-to-day movements like brushing your teeth, typing on a computer, or preparing a meal. The team at Preferred Physical Therapy Associates will help you get to the bottom of your pain to find lasting relief.

Call us to schedule your initial appointment today!

Your Progress Matters To Us!

Return to Preferred Physical Therapy and Let’s Continue Your Journey to Wellness Together. Schedule Your Appointment Now!

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Staff Spotlight: Tsakaia Berkeley, OTR/L – Occupational Therapist

Tsakaia Berkeley is a licensed occupational therapist with over 8 years of experience in outpatient care. She has a strong passion for helping individuals recover from orthopedic injuries and works closely with her patients to restore function and independence.

Her expertise includes treating a wide variety of conditions such as:

  • Orthopedic injuries (hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder)
  • Post-surgical rehabilitation
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome and tendon injuries
  • Arthritis and joint stiffness
  • Fine motor and coordination challenges
  • Stroke recovery
  • Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions

Tsakaia is dedicated to guiding each patient back to the activities they enjoy most, ensuring therapy is both effective and meaningful. She is excited to continue growing her skills and contributing to the team at Preferred Physical Therapy.

Get Your Health Back on Track This National Physical Therapy Month

October is National Physical Therapy Month, and at Preferred Physical Therapy, we’re celebrating by reminding our communities in Deerfield Beach that physical therapy is one of the safest and most effective ways to overcome pain, restore movement, and improve overall health.

If you’ve been struggling with pain, recovering from surgery, or dealing with an injury that limits your daily activities, our highly skilled therapists are here to guide you back to doing what you love. Unlike quick fixes that only mask symptoms, physical therapy addresses the root of the problem and provides lasting solutions tailored to your needs.

Why choose physical therapy? Here are just a few of the benefits:

  • Improved mobility and range of motion: Therapy helps joints, muscles, and connective tissues move more freely so you can return to work, sports, and everyday life.
  • Restored strength: Whether from injury, surgery, or poor movement habits, we identify weaknesses and build them back up to support healthier movement.
  • Better overall health: PT encourages healthier habits, improved posture, and increased activity, all of which reduce pain and enhance wellness.
  • Lower risk of re-injury: By teaching you safer movement patterns, we help protect your body from future setbacks.

At Preferred Physical Therapy, we believe care should be generous, clearly understood, and focused on helping you achieve real results. Our mission is to positively impact lives by combining compassion, encouragement, and expert treatment for every patient we see.

If pain or limitation is holding you back, there’s no better time to take the first step. Call today or request an appointment at www.pptfl.com. Let’s make this National Physical Therapy Month the start of your journey back to health.

October Word Scramble


dancy
nlhealeow
mkpupin
rwcrcesao
ealevs
dierc

Answer Key

candy
halloween
pumpkin
scarecrow
leaves
cider

ANOTHER
5 STAR REVIEW

“I have lived in Boca Raton for almost 40 years and I’ve experienced a number of PT practices in South Florida whether for me, my husband, my kids, even my grandkids. Preferred Physical Therapy is by far the very best at every visit. I was warmly greeted, my therapy started on time, and I was given clear understanding of each piece of my treatment plan. I had never before felt such success from PT; the relief of my lower back pain was amazing. I am now back here for OT for a different issue (sorry I did not post a review sooner) and I am already seeing improvement. Also, it is very very clean not fancy at all, and I only wish I had found them when I first moved here!!”

 –Roberta A.  

MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

Due to the ever-changing world of healthcare, and the field of physical therapy, Preferred Physical Therapy Associates has decided to establish a Membership Program, to maintain the high quality of care we have provided for 18 years. We believe this program will help us establish and maintain our relationships with our patients, build trust with our patients, and allow us to offer enhanced services to the Members. We believe this program will serve the best interests of both the practice and our Member patients. All patients of Preferred Physical Therapy Associates are eligible to become Members of the PT Program. In fact, we hope that all our patients become Members, although we do offer the option of opting out of Membership.

Membership Program

Click to find out more about the benefits of the Membership Program at Preferred Physical Therapy!

Indulge in layers of creamy sweetness with these Bananas Foster Parfaits, featuring caramelized bananas and a hint of warm spice. This elegant yet easy dessert is sure to impress at any gathering.

Enjoy This Seasonal Healthy Recipe!

Bananas Foster Parfaits

  • 2 large ripe bananas
  • 6 Tbsp dark brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened apple juice
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Peel bananas and cut each in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 3 pieces. Combine sugar, apple juice, and butter in a nonstick skillet. Cook over medium-low heat for 3 minutes or until mixture begins to bubble. Add bananas to pan; cook for 2 minutes or until bananas begin to soften. Spoon 1/2 cup yogurt into the bottom of each of 4 parfait glasses. Divide banana mixture evenly among glasses. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon chopped and toasted pecans.

Meet Our Team

Let’s Get You Better ASAP!

Don’t let pain dictate your life. Take the first step towards reclaiming your mobility and well-being with our expert support. Start your journey to a healthier you today.

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