Arm Pain Relief
Restore Your Strength and Mobility
Arm pain most often develops after an injury, whether it happens suddenly or develops gradually over months of repetitive movement. But you can have a healthy arm and still experience arm pain when a nerve is damaged in your neck or upper back.
The expert team at startPTNow determines the cause of your pain and provides effective relief with customized physical therapy. If you need help, schedule a same-day or next-day appointment at our Maryland locations.
Arm Pain Q & A
What causes arm pain?
Sudden trauma and repetitive use injuries represent the top causes of arm pain. A few specific conditions that contribute to the problem include:
Important Note: Sudden pain in your left arm is also a sign of a possible heart attack. Seek emergency medical care if your pain quickly worsens or you also have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain in your back, neck, or jaw.
Can neck problems cause arm pain?
The vertebrae in your neck can develop degenerative conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, facet joint arthritis, and degenerative disc disease.
These neck problems can pinch the spinal nerves, causing a condition called cervical radiculopathy. With pinched cervical nerves, you can experience pain and tingling in your arms and hands. In severe cases, a pinched nerve causes numbness in your arm.
At startPTNow, we conduct comprehensive evaluations to determine if your arm pain originates from neck issues, ensuring we address the root cause of your discomfort.
How is arm pain treated?
After determining the cause of your pain, your physical therapist may begin your treatment by limiting your arm movement. Since your arms see a lot of activity during the day, you may need to temporarily restrict your mobility to give the underlying problem time to heal.
Your physical therapy may begin with gentle massage and passive range of motion exercises, with your therapist carefully moving your arm instead of you actively exercising.
As your pain and inflammation improve, your therapy progresses to include exercises and modalities that strengthen the soft tissues and restore the full range of motion.
At any time during your arm pain treatment, your therapist may employ a range of modalities, from electrical stimulation and ultrasound therapy to manual stretching. Depending on the cause of your pain, they may recommend instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) using specialized tools or traction.
Initial Treatment Phase
- Activity modification and rest
- Gentle massage techniques
- Passive range of motion exercises
- Pain and inflammation management
- Movement restriction when needed
Advanced Modalities
- Electrical stimulation therapy
- Ultrasound for deep tissue healing
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization
- Manual stretching techniques
- Traction for nerve-related issues
Progressive Rehabilitation
- Strengthening exercises
- Active range of motion training
- Functional movement restoration
- Sport-specific rehabilitation
- Home exercise programs
IASTM treats soft tissue injuries such as tennis elbow and ulnar nerve entrapment. This specialized technique accelerates healing, decreases pain, and improves mobility by breaking down scar tissue that limits muscle movement.
No matter what causes your arm pain, physical therapy can help. Get relief
by calling StartPTNow or scheduling an appointment online today.
