ELBOW PROBLEMS

TENNIS ELBOW

Tennis elbow is a popular term that is used to describe several different pathologies in the elbow. It is primarily a condition affecting the musculotendinous structures in and around the elbow the elbow. This condition is most commonly seen in tennis players, but can also be experienced by baseball players and other occupations that require repetitive use of the forearm such as carpenters and plumbers. The primary symptoms associated with Tennis Elbow are varying degrees of pain in the affected arm, both with athletic activity and at rest in the more severe cases.

ULNAR COLLATERAL LIGAMENT TEAR

Athletes with a history of repetitive overhand throwing activities often complain of pain on the medial (inner) side of the elbow. Patients may experience an acute "pop" or sharp pain on the medial elbow causing instability when throwing; a slower, more gradual onset of medial elbow pain during throwing; or pain after a session of heavy throwing. The patient may also experience pain and/or numbness radiating into forearm, hand and fingers, especially during throwing..

YOUTH BASEBALL ELBOW

The term Youth Baseball Elbow (also known as Little Leaguer’s Elbow) is actually a non-specific diagnosis that includes a variety of injuries. It is primarily used to describe an injury to a specific age group involved in a specific sport involving a specific extremity. In general, it is a condition involving injury to the elbow’s medial epicondyle growth plate due to the repetitive stresses of the act of throwing. The athlete may complain of general elbow pain, a loss of motion, and swelling. Click here for more.

ULNAR NEURITIS

Irritation and/or injury to the ulnar nerve of the elbow can be caused by a number of factors. Throwing athletes are especially vulnerable because of the intense biomechanical forces involved. Some of the more common symptoms are numbness and tingling in the little and ring fingers, pain radiating from the elbow down the forearm, and weakness of the hand and fingers. These symptoms are aggravated by activity and improve or resolve with a period of rest from throwing activities.

OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS

Osteochondral lesions are often the source of chronic pain in the adolescent athlete. It is especially prevalent in throwers or other athletes that use their arm in a repetitive motion that places the arm under stress. The patient often experiences dull, aching pain that is aggravated by activity. The elbow can become swollen and, like patients with osteoarthritis of the elbow, range of motion is limited (especially in extension).

OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE ELBOW

Degenerative arthritis of the elbow, on its own, is relatively uncommon in most developed nations. It is usually a condition that is seen secondary to trauma or overuse. Males are affected much more commonly than females. This condition is usually precipitated by occupations or activities involving repetitive use of the elbow. The patient’s dominant arm is most often affected, although a significant amount of patients are affected in both arms. Loss of extension is the patient’s most common complaint, but can also include mild to moderate pain with activity. Because of the changes seen to the bony structures, some patients may also experience irritation of the ulnar nerve because of osteophyte (bone spur) formation.