Triceps Tendinopathy in Mona Vale
Triceps tendinopathy can cause pain at the back of the elbow, particularly with pushing, pressing and overhead activities. At Helix Recovery, we assess the factors contributing to your symptoms and develop a progressive treatment and rehabilitation plan to rebuild strength and tendon capacity.
What is Triceps Tendinopathy?
The triceps tendon connects the triceps muscle at the back of the upper arm to the olecranon at the elbow. It plays an important role in straightening the elbow during pushing, pressing and throwing movements.
Triceps tendinopathy develops when the tendon becomes painful and less tolerant of the loads being placed through it. Symptoms may develop gradually following repeated pushing, throwing or strength training, particularly after increases in training volume or intensity.
Common Symptoms
Pain at the back of the elbow
Tenderness around the triceps tendon
Pain with pushing or pressing movements
Pain when straightening the elbow against resistance
Pain with push-ups, dips or bench press
Pain with overhead pressing
Reduced tolerance for gym training or sport
Symptoms aggravated by repetitive loading
How We Assess Triceps Tendinopathy
Several structures around the back of the elbow can produce similar symptoms, including the triceps tendon, olecranon bursa and the elbow joint itself.
Assessment may include palpation, resisted elbow extension, strength testing, elbow and shoulder movement and functional activities that reproduce your symptoms.
The aim is to identify the likely source of your symptoms, determine how much load the tendon currently tolerates and identify factors that can be addressed through treatment and progressive rehabilitation.
How We Treat Triceps Tendinopathy
Treatment depends on how long symptoms have been present, their severity and the activities you want to return to.
Treatment may include:
Osteopathic manual therapy
Shockwave therapy
Progressive exercise rehabilitation
Triceps and upper-limb strengthening
Activity and load modification
Gradual return to lifting, gym, work or sport
Shockwave Therapy for Triceps Tendinopathy
Shockwave therapy may be recommended for persistent triceps tendinopathy, particularly when symptoms have been present for several months or progress has plateaued despite appropriate rehabilitation.
Shockwave therapy may help reduce pain and local tendon sensitivity, allowing progressive strengthening to continue. It is not a standalone treatment and is typically used alongside a structured loading program as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan.
Common Questions
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Symptoms often develop when the amount or intensity of loading through the triceps tendon exceeds its current capacity. Increases in pressing, throwing or repetitive upper-limb activities can contribute.
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Usually, yes. Exercises that significantly aggravate symptoms may initially need to be modified, but the goal is generally to maintain an appropriate level of training while progressively rebuilding tendon capacity.
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Shockwave therapy may be considered for persistent tendon pain, particularly when progress with rehabilitation has plateaued. It is generally used alongside progressive strengthening and appropriate load management.
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Recovery varies depending on how long symptoms have been present, their severity and the activities you want to return to. Persistent tendon problems often require several weeks to months of progressive rehabilitation.
Is Elbow Pain Limiting Your Pushing or Pressing?
If pain at the back of your elbow is limiting gym training, lifting, work or sport, we can assess what's contributing and develop a progressive treatment and rehabilitation plan.