Elbow Pain Relief

Sprains and strains are frequently mixed up! Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched or torn, whereas strains happen when a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn.

Elbow sprains and strains are common. Unexpected tissue overstretching can result in a tear, swelling, pain, and difficulty moving.

Throwing can cause the ligaments on the inner side of your elbow to stretch or tear. Injuries to the UCL account for 10% of all injuries in professional baseball and can devastate a player’s career.

This is one of the most common overuse injuries in adolescent baseball/softball players. Young athletes are skeletally immature , and the effects of repetitive overhand throwing inflame the inner elbow growth plate. The pain is usually felt while throwing or shortly afterward. The pain usually worsens as the number of innings pitched or games played increases. Motion loss can occur in either the bent or extended position in severe cases. Some athletes may sustain an avulsion fracture if they are not treated (i.e., a small chunk of bone attached to a tendon or ligament gets pulled away from the main part of the bone).

This is one of the most common overuse injuries in adolescent baseball/softball players. Young athletes are skeletally immature , and the effects of repetitive overhand throwing inflame the inner elbow growth plate.

Tennis elbow may be caused by tendonitis or tendonosis. Tendinitis occurs when the tendons of the outer elbow (lateral epicondyle) become inflamed. If it is caused by repetitive tasks, it is more likely tendonitis, which does not respond to anti-inflammatory medication. Tennis elbow is commonly associated with tasks such as holding a tennis racket, a paintbrush, or a hammer. Tenderness will be severe around the outside of your elbow, causing pain when gripping, lifting, or twisting your forearm.

Medial (inside) epicondylitis, also known as “golfer’s elbow,” is a condition that is similar to tennis elbow except that the pain is on the inside of the elbow. This injury is commonly caused by overuse of the muscles that flex your wrist and fingers and can be classified as tendinitis or tendonosis depending on whether there is inflammation in the tendons surrounding the inner aspect of the elbow.

Several nerves run from the upper arm to the forearm and hand via the elbow. Nerve injuries can occur in the ulnar, radial, median, medial antebrachial cutaneous, and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerves. Traction and compression are the most common nerve injuries, particularly in athletes who place forceful, repetitive stresses across their elbow joint. Numbness, tingling, or temperature loss are common symptoms of nerve injuries. Overuse nerve injuries are accompanied by swelling, which reduces the nerve’s ability to function correctly. In severe nerve injuries, muscle function is disrupted, and paralysis can occur.

The most common cause of upper extremity fractures, including elbow fractures, is falls. This is because the natural reaction when falling is to try to catch yourself and lead with the arm to absorb the fall. Immobilization is frequently required to allow the bones to heal, which can result in stiffness, weakness, and persistent pain. Fortunately, our physical therapists at Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness in Bellaire, Stafford and Sugar Land, TX have extensive experience helping people of all ages regain function following a fracture and immobilization!