Forearm pain

The forearm is the area between the elbow joint and the wrist joint. The forearm contains many muscles that are important for hand function. Pain in the forearm can therefore be very bothersome during daily activities that require the use of our hands.

Anatomy of the forearm

The forearm consists of two bones: the ulna (ulna) and the radius (radius). Thanks to these two bones, it is possible to rotate the forearm without moving the elbow or wrist joint. There are 19 muscles in the forearm. These muscles can be divided into three groups: 

• Muscles that only move the forearm. 
• Muscles that attach to the metacarpals and thus move the hand. 
• Muscles that attach to the finger bones and are therefore partly responsible for movement of the fingers. 

Various blood vessels and nerves run through the forearm. The blood vessels supply the forearm and the hand with nutrients and remove waste products. The nerves ensure that we can control movements and feel pain.

Pain symptoms

Forearm pain can arise both acutely and gradually.

Acute forearm pain

Pain that arises acutely is often the result of an accident or fall. Various structures in the forearm can be damaged in this case. Muscle tears, bruises, and bone fractures are regularly seen with acute forearm pain.

Non-acute forearm pain

Symptoms that have no clear cause and have increased over a longer period are usually due to overuse. The muscles in the forearm are important for hand, wrist, and elbow function. If these muscles are overloaded by heavy or prolonged activities, pain symptoms occur. The tendons of the muscles are particularly sensitive to this because they are less well supplied with blood and recover more slowly after heavy overuse.

Common

The best-known condition of the forearm is the so-called tennis elbow (also called lateral epicondylitis). In this condition, the attachment of various forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow is affected. The resulting pain can radiate along the entire length of the forearm. If the pain is on the inside of the elbow/forearm, it is often called a golfer's elbow (or medial epicondylitis). 

The muscles in the forearm, like those in the lower leg, lie in different compartments. In this case, a group of muscles is surrounded by a fascial sheath. If overuse causes too much tension in a compartment, this can cause significant symptoms in the forearm region. 

In addition to symptoms of muscles, tendons, and bones, nerves can also cause forearm pain. The cause is often in the elbow, where the nerve can become pinched. As a result, radiating pain is felt in the forearm.

Check your forearm symptoms

Do you currently have forearm pain and are you curious about what is going on? Then you can investigate for yourself by taking the online physical therapy check. Indicate where you feel the pain in your forearm and then answer a number of questions about your symptoms. You will then immediately receive an overview of forearm problems that you may be suffering from. It is advisable to then have a physical therapist examine your forearm.

In our directory of physical therapists you can easily find a physical therapy practice nearby that can help you further.

Conditions

The conditions below can cause forearm pain. Click on the name of a condition for more information.