Elbow Pain Physiotherapy in Saskatoon
If your elbow pain is stopping you from training, gripping, lifting, or getting through a normal workday, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken.
At Vigour Physiotherapy, I help people in Saskatoon with elbow pain and recurring flare-ups by combining:
a thorough physiotherapy assessment
the right kind of movement and exercise
strength and load progression
practical strategies for real life (work, kids, sports, gym, golf, racquet sports, etc.)
hands-on treatment where appropriate
We can help make this simple and give you an actionable plan.
No referral required, direct billing available, 1-on-1 care, exercises sent to you after your visit
Elbow pain can be frustrating, especially when it keeps coming back every time you lift, grip, type, or train. The goal is to calm symptoms, rebuild tolerance, and get you back to what you want to do using a plan that combines assessment, the right movement, strength progressions, and real-life strategies.
When should you see a physiotherapist for elbow pain?
Book an assessment if you’ve got any of the following:
your elbow pain has lasted more than 2–3 weeks
you keep having flare-ups every time you get back to the gym or sport
gripping, lifting, pulling, or carrying consistently aggravates it
typing, mousing, or repetitive work is making it worse
your pain is limiting training, work, or sleep
you’ve been told you have tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow and it is not improving
symptoms are traveling into your forearm or hand
you’re unsure what’s going on and want a clear plan
You don’t need a perfect diagnosis to start making progress — you need a plan that matches your situation and your goals.
Types of elbow pain we work with
If any of the following sounds familiar, we can most likely help:
elbow pain that keeps coming back
pain with gripping, carrying, or lifting
pain with pressing, pulling, or hanging
stiffness or pain first thing in the morning
pain with gym exercises like rows, chin-ups, curls, presses, or skull crushers
pain on the outside of the elbow often labeled “tennis elbow”
pain on the inside of the elbow often labeled “golfer’s elbow”
forearm tightness, irritation, or weakness related to elbow pain
If you’re unsure what’s going on, that’s fine — you don’t need a perfect diagnosis to start making progress.
What makes elbow pain stick around?
A lot of elbow pain isn’t just an inflammation problem. It’s often a mix of:
sensitivity (the area staying easily irritated)
load intolerance (the tissues aren’t currently prepared for the demands you’re asking of them)
gripping and lifting habits that keep re-irritating it
strength/endurance gaps through the forearm, wrist, elbow, and shoulder
work and life realities (repetitive gripping, typing, tools, childcare, sport, gym volume)
mobility deficits in the wrist, elbow, shoulder, or upper body that change how load gets distributed
My goal is to reduce symptoms and rebuild capacity so you trust your elbow again.
What your first appointment looks like
In your assessment, we’ll:
Clarify your story (what started it, what makes it better/worse, what you’re trying to get back to)
Screen for red flags and decide if anything needs referral
Test movement + strength relevant to your goals (daily tasks or performance)
Create a plan you understand:
what to do now
what to modify temporarily (and what you don’t need to avoid)
what we’re building toward over the next few weeks
You’ll leave with a clear next step, not just “come back and we’ll see.”
How we treat elbow pain (what you can expect)
Treatment is individualized, but typically includes:
education + reassurance what’s normal, what’s not, and how to navigate flare-ups
mobility work when it’s actually the right tool
strength and control for the forearm, wrist, elbow, and shoulder
graded exposure to the stuff you care about (lifting, gripping, gym work, racquet sports, golf, climbing, manual work, or everyday tasks)
hands-on treatment when helpful to calm symptoms and improve tolerance
dry needling / IMS when appropriate (optional, not mandatory, not magic)
The long-term win is resilience: building capacity so your elbow tolerates the life you want to live.
Common types of elbow pain I see
People don’t fit neatly into boxes, but these are common patterns:
outside elbow pain / “tennis elbow”
inside elbow pain / “golfer’s elbow”
gym-related elbow pain
gripping-related or work-related elbow pain
forearm-dominant irritation linked to elbow loading
persistent elbow pain that keeps getting re-aggravated
No matter the category, the plan is usually the same: calm it down → rebuild tolerance → return to what you want to do.
Nick Allard, MPT: Your Elbow Pain Physiotherapist
“I’m Nick Allard, a Saskatoon physiotherapist and the owner of Vigour Physiotherapy. I work with active adults and everyday humans dealing with elbow pain, whether it’s a fresh flare-up or something that keeps coming back. My approach is straightforward: figure out what’s driving it, calm it down, and build your strength, mobility, and tolerance so you can get back to training, work, and life with more confidence. Read more about Nick here!”
Direct Billing to your insurance, 1-on-1 assessments and treatment, exercises sent to you following your visit, no waitlist
Elbow Pain FAQs
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Sometimes, but not always. Pain on the outside of the elbow is often labeled tennis elbow, but the assessment helps figure out what tissues and movements are actually driving your symptoms.
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Yes. Shoulder strength, upper body mechanics, and sometimes neck-related irritation can all influence how the elbow is loaded. We’ll assess the whole system.
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Usually not. Most people do better with smart temporary modifications rather than complete rest. The goal is to keep you moving while reducing irritation.
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Gripping loads the forearm muscles and tendons heavily, especially when the area is already sensitive. That doesn’t automatically mean damage is getting worse, but it does mean load needs to be managed properly.
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Yes. Inside elbow pain often responds well to the same big-picture approach: reduce aggravation, improve strength and tolerance, and gradually reload the area.
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Yes, when it fits. It can help reduce sensitivity and muscle guarding so you can move and load better, but the long-term win is rebuilding capacity with rehab.
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Usually not early on, especially if there are no red flags. If your symptoms suggest a need for imaging or referral, I’ll tell you.
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It depends on the irritability, how long it’s been going on, and your goals. Some people need a few visits to calm things down, while others benefit from a short block of rehab to build long-term resilience. We’ll map this out early.
Ready to get moving again?
If you’re tired of guessing and want a plan that actually fits your life (and your training), book an appointment. We’ll figure out what’s driving it and what to do next.
Reviewed by: Nick Allard, MPT (Registered Physiotherapist) • Last updated: 2026-04-07
This page is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have severe or worsening symptoms, major swelling, significant weakness, numbness that is progressing, fever, unexplained weight loss, or symptoms after major trauma, seek urgent medical care.
Conveniently Located in Saskatoon, SK
610 Queen Street #102
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 0M8
Directly across from City Hospital in the City Park neighbourhood
Other Common Conditions We Treat:
Shoulder Pain Physiotherapy in Saskatoon