Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Elbow pain is often caused by overuse. Many sports, hobbies and jobs require repetitive hand, wrist or arm movements. Elbow pain may occasionally be due to arthritis, but in general, your elbow joint is much less prone to wear-and-tear damage than are many other joints.

Common causes of elbow pain include:

  1. Broken arm
  2. Bursitis (joint inflammation)
  3. Golfer's elbow
  4. Osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints)
  5. Osteochondritis dissecans
  6. Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
  7. Sprains
  8. Stress fractures
  9. Tendinitis
  10. Tennis elbow
  11. Throwing injuries
  12. Trapped nerves

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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March 27, 2021

See also

  1. Golfer's elbow
  2. Hemophilia
  3. Love to golf? Protect your elbows
  4. Tennis elbow
  5. Integrative approaches to treating pain
  6. Nutrition and pain
  7. Pain rehabilitation
  8. Wiiitis