It’s time to play ball and enjoy the sports we love. With the popularity in warm weather sports, comes unwanted sports injuries. Elbow injuries are extremely common in sports involving repetitive arm movements or direct contact with other players. Sports involving overhead throwing, such as baseball and softball, as well as sports involving repetitive hitting motions, like tennis and golf are more prone to injury. Sports can cause tremendous stress on the arm and elbow joints.
Players and parents alike should be aware of the potential for injury from spring and summer sports. Check out these the top 5 sports-related elbow injuries:
- Tennis Elbow: Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common elbow injury that can occur in not only tennis but also in golf, baseball, and weightlifting. This injury occurs when the outer tendons of the elbow become inflamed resulting in outer elbow pain, forearm weakness, and difficulty gripping objects.
- Golfer’s Elbow: Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is another common elbow injury in sports involving repetitive wrist and forearm movement such as golf. This injury is similar to tennis elbow but instead occurs in the inner elbow, resulting in tendon inflammation which causes inner elbow pain, wrist and forearm weakness, and difficulty gripping objects.
- Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injury: The UCL is a ligament on the inside of the joint that helps to stabilize the elbow when throwing an object. UCL injuries are often due to chronic wear and tear in sports such as baseball, softball, and javelin throwing. When the UCL is torn, there may be a popping sound while throwing, inner elbow pain, and decreased mobility of the elbow joint.
- Elbow Dislocation: Elbow dislocation occurs when the elbow is forced out of its normal position. This injury can occur due to a fall or collision resulting in direct elbow trauma during any contact sport. Symptoms of an elbow dislocation include extreme pain, inflammation, and immobility.
- Olecranon Bursitis: Olecranon bursitis is a condition involving the inflammation of the bursa, fluid-filled sacs cushioning your joints, in your elbow. This injury can occur from repetitive elbow movements or direct trauma to the elbow resulting in pain and swelling at the back of the elbow.
If you or a loved one suffers from an elbow injury, contact Dr. Shrouder-Henry, an expert in the treatment of sports throwing injuries of the arm and elbow.
AUTHOR: Jason Shrouder-Henry MD MBA, is a Board certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in the hand, wrist, and shoulder throughout Chicagoland and NW Indiana.