Sports Elbow Injuries
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Are you a golf or racquet sport athlete? Do you partake in swimming, throwing, bodybuilding or weightlifting? Are you experiencing elbow pain when participating in sports activities or in your daily life?
If you have answered yes to these questions, you may have an elbow sports injury.
Overuse of the shoulder causes sporting injuries in this body part. Injuries can be caused by repetitive biceps contractions or extension and twisting of the wrist.
The extensor tendon located on the elbow's outside is often affected by sporting injuries. The tendons inside the elbow are affected by others. Posterior impingement occurs when the elbow's bone and cartilage become inflamed. Cartilage pieces may break due to sporting injuries, and these pieces float within the joint, resulting in pain and inflammation.
Common Elbow Conditions Caused by Playing Sport
The extensor tendon (located on the elbow's outside) becomes inflamed due to repetitive twisting and extending motions. There are other elbow conditions that have similar symptoms to Tennis Elbow, meaning it can only be diagnosed by a qualified, experienced doctor.
This condition is very similar to Tennis Elbow, but the elbow's inside tendon becomes inflamed.
The elbow and radius bone are connected via the distal biceps tendon. This tendon can rupture when overused and worn, resulting in elbow pain. This can also cause the retracting of the biceps muscle into the upper arm, making a noticeable bump.
Repetitive elbow extension results in this condition. Patients with this condition struggle to straighten their elbow without pain in the elbow's back, and clicking or locking may be experienced during this motion.
This condition requires urgent treatment, and other injuries (including instability and fractures) may be experienced in conjunction with a dislocation. Complex conditions arise from elbow dislocations, and ongoing treatment is often required.
Some sports injuries may benefit from non-surgical treatment.
Such treatments may include:
- The consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs for the reduction of swelling and pain
- Allowing the elbow to rest (specifically for repetition injuries)
- Immobilising and supporting the elbow via a splint or strap
- Physiotherapy exercises
- Corticosteroid injections for swelling or pain reduction
Surgery may be required as soon as possible for complex conditions such as distal biceps ruptures.
Symptoms from Sports Elbow Injuries
Elbow sporting injuries usually are painful and are marked by distinctive symptoms. Seek treatment if you have any of the following symptoms. Permanent damage can be prevented through early intervention.
- Pain and tenderness are experienced when putting pressure on the elbow's outside.
- Pain when partaking in heavy lifting
- Elbow locking or clicking (which may cause pain)
- Weakness or pain when attempting to grip items
- Pain when partaking in clenching movements or shaking hands
- Sharp pains that extend from the elbow to the arm or hand
- Elbow and forearm weakness
- Pain when stretching fingers
- Elbow aches when sleeping or resting
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