Urgent Care for Elbow Injuries in the Philadelphia Metro Area

Skip the ER wait and get treated fast. AFC Urgent Care Centers near you provides quick, affordable care for elbow injuries. Our clinic can stabilize, brace, and help relieve your pain so you can start healing sooner.

Your elbow plays a major role in everyday movement — from lifting a cup of coffee to swinging a tennis racket. When an elbow injury happens, it can slow you down quickly. Getting evaluated early helps reduce pain, prevent complications, and get you back to your normal routine faster.

Most Common Elbow Pain & Injuries

Elbow pain can come from injuries, overuse, or underlying medical conditions. Because the elbow is made up of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments working together, identifying the exact source of pain can be challenging. Below are some of the most common elbow issues we treat at AFC Urgent Care.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is an overuse injury that affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow. It’s caused by repetitive motions of the forearm muscles — not just tennis.

Activities that can lead to tennis elbow include:

• Painting
• Carpentry
• Plumbing
• Using screwdrivers
• Chopping vegetables
• Any repetitive gripping or wrist‑extension movement

Symptoms often include:

• Pain on the outside of the elbow
• Pain that worsens with gripping or lifting
• Weak grip strength

Golfer’s Elbow

Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) is similar to tennis elbow but affects the tendons on the inside of the elbow. It’s caused by repetitive gripping, twisting, or wrist‑flexing motions.

Activities that may cause golfer’s elbow include:

• Golf
• Racquet sports
• Weightlifting
• Throwing sports
• Manual labor with repetitive arm movements

Symptoms include:

• Pain on the inner side of the elbow
• Pain that radiates down the forearm
• Pain that worsens with gripping or wrist flexion
• Weak grip strength

Elbow Strains and Sprains

Elbow strains and sprains involve injuries to the tendons or ligaments that support the elbow joint. These injuries can occur from falls, accidents, or sports‑related impacts.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Stiffness
• Feeling of instability in the elbow

Olecranon Fracture

An olecranon fracture is a break in the bony tip of the elbow (part of the ulna). This area is vulnerable because it is not protected by muscle or fat.

Common causes include:

• Falling onto an outstretched hand
• Direct impact to the elbow
• Contact sports collisions
• Sudden forceful contraction of the triceps

Symptoms may include:

• Sudden, severe elbow pain
• Swelling and bruising
• Difficulty straightening the arm
• Visible deformity
• Numbness or tingling in the fingers