Most people are familiar with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but did you know the second most common nerve entrapment in the arm occurs at the elbow?1 This condition is known as Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and occurs when inflammation of the Ulnar Nerve occurs as it passes through the shallow inner tunnel of the elbow.1
Who is affected by Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?
This injury often occurs in throwers due to the large amounts of stress placed on the elbow or with activities that cause long periods of the elbow in a bent position such as long-range bicycling.2
What are the symptoms of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome can present with:1,3
- Numbness and tingling along the ring and little finger
- Inner elbow pain
- Loss of coordination or clumsiness in the hand and fingers
- May have non-painful snapping or popping in the elbow with active and passive motion at the elbow
How is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome diagnosed?
Your Physical Therapist will take you through a series of tests to make sure your symptoms are in fact coming from the elbow. Many of the symptoms listed above could be related to issues of the neck, nerves in the shoulder, as well as referred pain from different organs, so ruling out these other issues is paramount.1,3
How can Your Physical Therapy help?
We will use a series of treatment techniques, exercises, and education to help improve your symptoms. These can include but are not limited to:4,5
- Figuring out which lifestyle and behavioral changes will reduce pressure on this nerve
- Provide stretches and manual therapy to improve flexibility at sites of compression
- Strengthen surrounding structures to reduce stress on the area
- Nerve gliding exercises to reduce symptoms
What if I had surgery for this, can I still benefit from physical therapy?
Absolutely! Despite the surgical technique used, those who have had surgery for this condition can benefit from physical therapy. After the typical 1-3 weeks of being immobilized, it is important to help alleviate the effects of not moving with strengthening and mobility exercises within the safety of your post-surgical precautions.5
Disclaimer: There are many conditions that can present as Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. Other causes of this pain may not benefit from the advice shown above. However, you could still benefit from physical therapy to determine the cause and how to resolve your symptoms.
If you are dealing with this issue or other musculoskeletal-related problems, please fill out the contact form below so we can get started with your free phone consultation. Why waste time when you can get back to functioning in everyday life without discomfort with help from Your Physical Therapy?
References
- Assmus H, Antoniadis G, Bischoff C, Hoffmann R, Martini AK, Preissler P, Scheglmann K, Schwerdtfeger K, Wessels KD, Wüstner-Hofmann M. Cubital tunnel syndrome – a review and management guidelines. Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2011 May;72(2):90-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1271800. Epub 2011 May 4.
- Aldridge JW, Bruno RJ, Strauch RJ, Rosenwasser MP. Nerve entrapment in athletes. Clin Sports Med. 2001 Jan;20(1):95-122. doi: 10.1016/s0278-5919(05)70249-0. PMID: 11227711.
- Robertson C, Saratsiotis J. A review of compressive ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2005 Jun;28(5):345.
- Caliandro P, La Torre G, Padua R, Giannini F, Padua L. Treatment for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Nov 15;11(11):CD006839. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006839.pub4. PMID: 27845501; PMCID: PMC6734129.
- Mazurek MT, Shin AY. Upper extremity peripheral nerve anatomy: current concepts and applications. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2001 Feb;(383):7-20. doi: 10.1097/00003086-200102000-00004.