Do you feel pain in your elbow when you bend your arm to wave to a neighbor? How about a tingling sensation in your fingers? If you have these types of issues on a persistent basis, or they’re worsening with time, it’s possible that you have cubital tunnel syndrome.

Cubital tunnel syndrome refers to nerve damage, or neuropathy, of the ulnar nerve. This nerve works to provide sensations and movements for your hand, wrist and forearm. It runs down your arm and through a tunnel of soft tissue located underneath the medial epicondyle, which is the bony bump on your inner elbow. It’s often referred to as the funny bone. When the nerve becomes compressed due to excessive pressure, it’s known as cubital tunnel syndrome. 

Right behind carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common peripheral nerve entrapment. Cubital tunnel syndrome can cause a variety of symptoms that interfere with your ability to carry out everyday tasks, from elbow pain when you bend your arm to a weak grip. The good news is that with the right treatment, you can alleviate the pain and restore function of the affected area. Many of the treatment options can be carried out in a physical therapy clinic.

We’ll talk about physical therapist treatments that can be used to help patients with cubital tunnel syndrome. We’ll also discuss the benefits of seeking physical therapy treatments for your symptoms.

5 treatments used in physical therapy to help cubital tunnel syndrome

It’s not uncommon for people to try to just brush off pain as “no big deal.” When life gets busy, health and wellness can get pushed to the side. But if you’re experiencing symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome, such as inner elbow pain, weakness and numbness, it’s important to take the right steps to alleviate them to decrease their negative impact on your quality of life. If left untreated, the syndrome can lead to permanent nerve damage. It can also cause atrophy or muscle weakness.

Although severe cases of the condition may require surgery, most patients who have been diagnosed with cubital tunnel syndrome can alleviate their symptoms with the right treatment at home as well as with the help of a physical therapist.

A physical therapist will evaluate your symptoms during your first appointment. They’ll also carry out a physical assessment to determine the strength, mobility and function of your elbow, wrist and fingers. With that insight, along with information about your medical history, they can create a personalized treatment plan that’s safe and effective based on the severity of your symptoms and your physical capabilities.

Here are five physical therapy treatments for cubital tunnel syndrome:

• Nerve gliding exercises — Nerve gliding exercises are often used as a way to help the ulnar nerve properly move through the cubital tunnel while also reducing stiffness in the arm and wrist. These exercises can promote blood flow and stretch the compressed nerve to encourage movement and prevent the nerve from being “stuck.”
• Range-of-motion exercises — Elbow stiffness is a common symptom of cubital tunnel syndrome. It’s the result of trying to avoid bending your arm for an extended period of time because of elbow pain. This is called protective posturing, which can shorten some of your arm muscles. It’s important that your physical therapist addresses the reduced range of motion with the right exercises. They can work on lengthening the muscles for improved range of motion with exercises like elbow flexions.
• Strengthening exercises — When the muscles in your elbow and forearm are weakened, it can lead to a weak grip, so muscle strengthening exercises are important during physical therapy sessions to treat the symptoms. Not only does boosting your muscle strength improve their function, but it can also help reduce the pain. Common strengthening exercises for people with cubital tunnel syndrome include finger curls and wrist twists. Light weights will likely be added as you progress.
• Ergonomic adjustments — The ulnar nerve can become compressed when there’s too much pressure placed on it from either repetitive elbow-bending movements or leaning your elbows on a hard surface for an extended period of time. By incorporating ergonomics into your everyday tasks, you can improve your body’s posture to reduce the risk of irritating the ulnar nerve. Your physical therapist can help you incorporate ergonomic adjustments into your lifestyle. A common example is changing the height of your work desk.
• Sleep recommendations — A common symptom of cubital tunnel syndrome is a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers that often flares up at night. This can interfere with your ability to fall or stay asleep, especially if you lie in a position that puts pressure on the ulnar nerve. Your physical therapist can help you find ways to improve your sleep; they may suggest wearing a splint at night or readjusting your sleeping position to avoid excessive strain on the ulnar nerve.

Physical therapy can also be helpful if you have a severe case of cubital tunnel syndrome that requires surgery. Your physical therapist can use many of the above treatment options following the procedure to help reduce your pain and restore your elbow’s mobility and function as much as possible. They may also provide additional manual therapy options to reduce scar tissue from the procedure, such as soft tissue manipulation. 

Why physical therapy treatments are helpful for patients with cubital tunnel syndrome

Physical therapy plays such a pivotal role in treating cubital tunnel syndrome because the benefits go beyond temporary pain relief. By following your personalized treatment plan and listening to the expertise of your therapist, you can get the most out of your treatment, with results that continue to have a positive effect on your health and wellness, even after you’ve completed your sessions.

Here are a few benefits that you could gain from using physical therapy treatments with cubital tunnel syndrome:

• Accelerated recovery process
• Restored elbow joint mobility
• Reduced pain
• Increased muscle strength 
• Reduced risk of future pain or injuries
• Improved posture
• Knowledge of exercises to perform at home
• Surgical rehabilitation

Many people who seek physical therapy treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome feel improvement in three months — in fact, it has a 90% success rate. 

Lattimore Physical Therapy can help you with the right physical therapy treatments for cubital tunnel syndrome

You probably bend and straighten your arm much more than you realize throughout the day, and once you experience pain from a simple movement, you realize how much it can impact your ability to carry out your everyday responsibilities. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor about concerns, such as radiating pain down your arm or inner elbow pain that worsens every time you bend it.

Your doctor will likely recommend that you seek physical therapy treatment. At Lattimore Physical Therapy, we’ll guide you through every step of your journey toward relief from your cubital tunnel syndrome.

Whether you have a mild case of inner elbow pain or you’re recovering from surgery on the ulnar nerve, we have the right courses of action to help you restore your elbow, wrist and finger mobility and function.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.