Health Topics for Sports Medicine

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

UI Family Care

Elbow injuries

Sports like tennis, racquetball, squash, golf, and weight lifting put a lot of stress on the elbow. If these are your sports, you may be at risk for developing an overuse elbow injury.

Everyone is at risk for other elbow injuries. Broken bones, dislocations, and sprains are hard to prevent. They frequently result from a fall onto an outstretched arm.

If you get an elbow injury that causes severe pain, swelling, or inability to move the elbow, follow these steps:

• send for emergency medical help immediately
• splint the injured arm
• secure it with an elastic wrap and
• apply a covered ice pack gently over the area for 10 to 30 minute intervals until help arrives

Any injury to the elbow is serious. Damage to a nerve at the elbow joint can lead to permanent problems with the muscles of the forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers. Swelling, lack of movement, and bone crookedness result from fractures and dislocations.

Overuse injuries of the elbow are rarely emergencies. They develop over time. The most common ones are tennis elbow, pitcher's elbow, and Little League elbow.

Tennis elbow is an irritated muscle in the forearm that attaches to the bony knob on the outside of the elbow. With overuse, tennis elbow results.

Pitcher's elbow affects athletes who power snap their wrists downward and inward as part of a motion required in their sport. The tendon from the flexor muscles becomes inflamed. This problem is seen in baseball pitchers, golfers, rowers, and very good tennis players.

Little league elbow damages the growth plates at the ends of the forearm bones in the joint. The injury is caused by throwing motions. Any elbow pain felt by a child or teen should be taken seriously.

Treat overuse injuries with RICE therapy: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Rest the affected area, do not use or bear weight (standing, walking, etc.), until evaluated by provider. Apply a cloth-covered ice pack to the affected area for no more than 20 minutes at a time, 4 to 8 times a day. The healthcare provider may suggest using an elastic bandage to the area to help reduce swelling. The affected part should be elevated so it is 12 inches above the heart to help reduce swelling. Seek medical help if the condition gets worse or does not respond to a couple of weeks of rest.

Take medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or NSAIDs, as directed on the label and if approved by your healthcare provider. Aspirin or medicines that have aspirin in them should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age. Taking aspirin is a risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. NSAIDs should not be taken by anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma, ulcer disease, or a bleeding disorder. Taking NSAIDs increases the risk of bleeding with trauma, dental work, surgery, or if taking blood thinners (anticoagulants).

Acetaminophen should not be taken by anyone with known liver or kidney disease. Do not drink alcohol when taking more than 1 dose of acetaminophen.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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