601 N Craycroft Rd
Tucson, AZ 85711
Elbow Pain Chiropractor in Tucson, AZ
Conditions > Elbow Pain
Elbow pain has a way of starting small. A mild ache after work. Some stiffness after a long day on the job site. Then one morning you're wincing just trying to grip a coffee cup or shake someone's hand.
At Arizona Chiropractic & Spine Rehabilitation, Dr. David Heaton treats elbow pain with a conservative, root-cause approach. No injections, no surgery, no guesswork.
Why Your Elbow Pain May Not Start in Your Elbow
Here's something many Tucson patients are surprised to learn: elbow pain is often driven by problems elsewhere in the body.
The nerves that serve your elbow travel through your neck and shoulder. Restrictions or misalignments higher up the chain can create or worsen what you feel in your elbow every day. That's why Dr. Heaton evaluates the full picture, not just the joint that hurts.
Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer's Elbow
These two conditions account for the majority of chronic elbow pain we treat.
Tennis elbow affects the outer elbow. It's caused by repetitive strain on the forearm tendons, the kind of strain that builds up over weeks or months of repeated motion.
Golfer's elbow affects the inner elbow, from a slightly different movement pattern but the same underlying mechanism: tiny tendon tears from overuse.
Despite their names, you don't need to play a sport to develop either condition. Research shows only about 5% of tennis elbow patients actually play tennis.
In Tucson, we commonly see these conditions in:
● Construction workers, painters, and plumbers
● Office workers and people who type or use a mouse for hours daily
● Mechanics and tradespeople
● Cyclists, rock climbers, and recreational athletes
If your job or hobby involves repetitive arm and wrist movement, you're at risk.
Other Elbow Conditions Dr. Heaton Treats
Beyond tennis and golfer's elbow, patients come to our Tucson clinic with:
● Bursitis and joint inflammation
● Nerve entrapment and referred pain from the cervical spine
● Sprains and ligament strains from falls or sudden impact
● Overuse injuries from work or athletic activity
● Elbow joint misalignment affecting range of motion
● Post-injury stiffness and reduced grip strength
If you've also noticed tingling or numbness in your fingers alongside elbow pain, that's worth mentioning at your visit. It may point to hand numbness or nerve involvement that needs to be addressed as part of your care.
How Dr. Heaton Treats Elbow Pain
Every case starts with a thorough evaluation of the elbow, the wrist, the shoulder, and the cervical spine. Problems in any of these areas can slow healing or make the elbow worse.
Your personalized treatment plan may include:
Chiropractic adjustments to restore proper alignment in the elbow joint and address cervical spine involvement
Soft tissue therapy to reduce tendon inflammation and break down adhesions in the forearm
Infrared cold laser therapy to accelerate tissue healing at the cellular level
Electrical muscle stimulation to ease pain and improve circulation around affected tendons
Rehabilitative exercises and ergonomic guidance to prevent the problem from coming back
Don't Let Elbow Pain Become Chronic
Untreated tennis elbow can last anywhere from three weeks to several years. Most elbow conditions follow the same pattern: manageable at first, then quietly limiting more and more of your daily life.
Getting evaluated early makes a real difference in how fast and how fully you recover.
Call Arizona Chiropractic & Spine Rehabilitation in Tucson at (520) 600-3300 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Heaton. Find out what's driving your elbow pain and what it takes to fix it for good.
Are you ready for a Better Life?
If pain, injury, or limited movement is slowing you down, we'd love to help. At Arizona Chiropractic & Spine Rehabilitation, Dr. Heaton makes it simple to get the care you need and start your path toward real recovery.
At Arizona Chiropractic in Tucson, our mission is not only to help you recover from pain, but also to educate and empower you with the tools to maintain long-term health and wellness.
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Mon - Thu 8:00AM - 6:00PM
Fri 9:00AM - 1:00PM
Saturday & Sunday Closed
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601 N Craycroft Rd
Tucson, AZ 85711
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