As mentioned above, the arm consists of many different bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments that physical therapists work with in their practice. Let’s explore some of the anatomy of the arm.

Bones: Starting near the wrist, there are eight wrist bones called the carpal bones and many joints between these bones, the bones of the hand and forearm. The two forearm bones are called the radius and ulna and their joints allow the forearm to rotate so you can turn your palm up and down. Finally, at the top of the arm is the humerus bone. This bone attaches to the forearm bones to form the elbow joint and to the scapula (shoulder blade) to form the shoulder. The bones themselves can be injured via fracture and the dysfunction in the joints can cause symptoms like pain and stiffness.

Muscles and Tendons: There are many muscles and their respective tendons in the arm, too many to list here. The muscles of the arm allow you to move your shoulder, wrist, forearm and elbow in all different planes so that you can use your arm for daily tasks. The muscles themselves can be strained or injured and the tendons can experience chronic or acute injury which can result in pain, weakness and difficulty using the involved area.

Ligaments: Ligaments are small bands of connective tissue that stretch from one side of a joint to the other and stabilize the joint. Ligaments can be sprained or torn and even become stretched.

Fascia: Fascia is a type of connective tissue that encapsulates muscles, organs, tendons and many other structures in our bodies. It is highly innervated and is sometimes involved in symptoms of pain or tightness in the arm.

These structures can be affected by injury or cause symptoms in the arm and physical therapists have different treatment techniques for addressing them.

WHAT ARM SYMPTOMS CAN IMPROVE WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY?

• Aching, burning, sharp or dull pain
• Aching, burning, sharp or dull pain that radiates into the arms and hands
• Pain that worsens with activity
• Numbness or tingling in the arm or hands
• Feelings of tightness or stiffness
• Pain in the joints
• Weakness in the arm

If you decide to work with an arm physical therapist to help correct your arm issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20 different arm PT sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized arm physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your arm PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

WHAT ARM CONDITIONS DO PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TREAT?

Physical therapists work with many conditions affecting the arm. Here are some that we commonly see in our clinic:

• Fracture
• Muscle strain
• Osteoarthritis
• Bone spurs
• Tendonitis
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Shoulder impingement
• Rotator cuff tears
• Post operative rehab
• Carpal tunnel
• ...and more!

WHAT PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE ARM?

The goal of physical therapy treatment for the arm is to relieve symptoms while addressing any underlying or contributing factors that may predispose you to recurrence or progression of the symptoms or injury. As mentioned above, my team and I will create an individualized treatment plan based on your unique presentation and the findings of our exam but here are some treatments commonly used in arm rehabilitation:

Modalities and manual therapy to manage pain, inflammation and swelling

Modalities, manual therapy and exercise to improve joint, muscle and tissue mobility to improve range of motion and reduce stiffness

Exercises to build strength, improve endurance and align tissues to promote healing

Neuromuscular re-education activities to improve coordination, muscular recruitment and motor control

Functional and sport-specific training to prepare the arm for return to work, leisure and athletic activities

As you can see there are many treatments available to address your arm symptoms. If you are dealing with an arm injury or recently had surgery on your arm and are ready to find a long-lasting solution call us today to learn more about our services and schedule an evaluation.