The elbow joint is a synovial (fluid-filled) hinge joint with several important functions: moving your hand toward and away from your body, rotating your forearm, and flexing and extending the arm (bending and straightening the elbow). To make all this movement happen, your joint consists of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and fluid. Any one of these can be harmed from overuse, leading to injury.
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Questions & Answers
Biceps Tendon Tear
Biceps tendon can be partial torn or completely torn. Partial tears do not completely sever the tendon. Complete tears however will split the tendon into two pieces.
Biceps tendon is usually injured at the elbow when the elbow is forced straight against resistance. It is less common to injure this tendon when the elbow is bent when dealing with resistance.
Symptoms:
- Swelling in the front of the elbow
- Weakness in bending of the elbow
- Visible bruising in the elbow and forearm
- Weakness in twisting the forearm
- A gap in the front of the elbow
- A lump in the upper part of the arm
Elbow Bursitis
Elbow bursitis can occur from
Trauma: a blow to the tip of the elbow can cause the bursa to swell.
Extended pressure: Leaning on the tip of the elbow for long periods of time on hard surfaces.
Infection: The infected bursa due to insect bites, cuts, etc., produces fluid, redness, swelling, and pain.
Medical conditions: Some conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and gout are linked with elbow bursitis.
Symptoms:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Bulging
Elbow Fractures
Elbow fractures derive from a number of ways.
A direct blow to the elbow from a fall or being struck by a hard object can cause elbow fractures.
Indirect fracture can happen by landing on an outstretched arm. Sometimes a person can land on their wrists with their elbow locked out straight, which can cause an elbow fracture.
Symptoms:
- Intense pain
- Inability to straighten the elbow
- Swelling over the bone
- Bruising around the elbow
- Tender
- Numbness
Golfer’s Elbow
Golfer’s elbow is pain and inflammation on the inner side of your elbow, where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of your elbow.
Symptoms:
- Pain and tenderness on the inner side of your elbow.
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- Numbness or tingling.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is inflammation, soreness, or pain on the outside of the upper arm near the elbow. There may be a partial tear of the tendon fibers. The tear may be at or near where these fibers begin, on the outside of the elbow.
This injury is common in people who play a lot of tennis or other racquet sports. The backhand is the most common stroke to cause tennis elbow symptoms. This condition may also be caused by constant computer keyboard and mouse use.
Symptoms:
- Elbow pain that worsens
- Pain
- Weak grasp
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