Elbow pain is often caused by overuse or injury such as a trip or fall . Many sports, hobbies and jobs require repetitive hand, wrist or arm movements. Elbow pain can be the result of pain arsing from bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or joints. Elbow pain may occasionally be due to arthritis. But in general, your elbow joint is much less likely to have wear-and-tear damage than are many other joints.