Elbow Strains and Sprains
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Strains and Sprains of the Elbow
An elbow strain is an injury that can occur from the elbow joint being moved in an unnatural position or when there is increased stress to the elbow.
Image of Elbow Strains and SprainsThis results in the muscles surrounding the elbow being stretched past their normal limits and becoming injured.
Symptoms include pain at rest or during motion, swelling, bruising, and decreased strength.
Treatment for elbow strains include increasing range of motion, promoting muscle healing, introducing specific resistive and strengthening exercises, and integrating functional tasks to promote independence in all daily activities.
This article goes over common definitions associated with elbow strains and sprains, anatomy, as well as signs, symptoms, and causes.
It also discusses the typical tests and diagnosis to determine if an elbow strain has occurred, and provides an emphasis on treatment of this disorder and prevention with home remedy tips.
Definition of an Elbow Strain
A Muscle Strain occurs when muscles are stretched past normal limits and become injured. While, a muscle sprain occurs when ligaments are stretched past normal limits and become torn.
Muscle strains and sprains have their own grading system of severity. A grade I sprain is a mild pull of muscles, without tear, and has normal strength. A example of a common strain occurs with bicep muscle injuries.
A grade II sprain occurs when tendons or muscle fibers are torn and there is decreased strength. The grade III strain is a complete tear of tendons or muscle fibers and severe strength loss; this type of strain requires surgery.
As for sprains and grade I sprain occurs when there is stretching or micro tears of ligament(s).
A grade II sprain is when there is partial tearing of ligament(s) with noticeable signs of instability. The grade III sprain occurs when there is complete tearing of ligament(s) with severe instability.
Anatomy of the Elbow
Elbow Anatomy
3 Bones of the Elbow
The elbow is a synovial hinge joint and is made up by three bones: the humerus, ulna, and radius. The humerus is the long bone of the upper arm that connects to your shoulder while the ulna and radius make up your forearm.
Muscles of the Elbow
Numerous muscles and ligaments surround these bones. Specific ligaments that may be injured in a strain and connect to the elbow is the Ulnar/Lateral Collateral Ligament, Radial/Medial Collateral Ligament, and Annular Collateral Ligament of the radius.
Some of the most common muscles that originate to the medial (middle) elbow and may be injured in a sprain include: Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, Flexor Carpi Radialis, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis, Pronator Teres and Palmaris Longus.
Some of the most common muscles that originate to the lateral (outside) elbow and may be injured in a sprain include: Extensor Capri Radialis Brevis, Extensor Digitorum, Extensor Carpi Ulnaris, and Extensor Digiti Minimi.
Some of the most common muscles that attach near the antecubital fossa (front of the elbow) include: Biceps Brachii. While common muscles that attach near the olecranon (back of elbow) include: Triceps. If you want to learn more about the elbow, please go to this video.
Signs, Symptoms, and Causes
Signs and symptoms of an elbow strain are pain or difficulty moving the elbow, swelling, bruises, decreased strength, muscle spasms, and tenderness to the area.
Typical causes of an elbow strain are trauma to the elbow, excessive or prolonged overuse, forceful hyperextension, and poor flexibility of the elbow joint.
Tests and Diagnosis
Typical tests that will be performing with an elbow injury include an X-Ray to rule out a break (fracture) and/or an MRI to determine if there is any tissue (muscle/ligament) damage to the elbow joint, such as an elbow strain.
Some differential diagnoses of an elbow strain consist of golfer’s elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) and tennis elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis).
Treatment of the Elbow
Typical treatment for an elbow strain, if surgical, may include immobilization (sling, splint, or tennis elbow brace) for 2-3 weeks during healing.
A therapist (occupational or physical) will focus on establishing a baseline and determining your level of function prior to the injury.
Therapeutic intervention include increasing range of motion (ROM) by extending the end ranges of joint mobility, introducing resistive, strengthening, and endurance exercises that focus on the specific muscle group that was injured in the elbow strain.
ROM is increased passively (by the therapist), actively (by the patient), or active assisted with a secondary device such as a supination wheel or pulleys. The goal is to extend the end ranges, which are typically shortened due to soft tissue swelling, without inducing pain to the injured muscles.
Resistive exercises used to strengthen the elbow joint can range from weighted cuffs, Thera-Bands, and flex bars.
Treatment focuses on promoting muscle healing and introducing functional activities into therapy that promote independence in the affected upper extremity during everyday activities. Exercises for tennis and golfer’s elbow are similar to those of an elbow strain but also include stretching. To schedule a physical therapy appointment at JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
Prevention and Home Remedies
Prevention of an elbow strain comes in many forms but is focused on rest of the affected upper extremity. This emphasizes avoiding excess strain to the joint and preventing further muscle damage.
Ways to help improve your symptoms at home and to reduce pain as well as swelling include rest the elbow and affected extremity, icing the joint for 8-10 minutes at a time with a towel in between skin and ice pack, compress the area with an ace bandage, and elevate the extremity above heart level by propping it on top of a pillow.
Related Articles:
JOI Rehab Treats Elbow Pain With Physical Therapy
JOI Rehab offers physical therapy or hand therapy for elbow pain. There are different treatments for the various sources of elbow pain. Joint mobilization, which is a hands-on technique to improve mobility of the joints, is a common way in which elbow pain is treated. Modalities are used to control pain and swelling in therapy.
If you would like to learn more about other conditions like wrist sprain or strain or elbow tendonitis, go to the JOI Research Library. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment at JOI Rehab for physical therapy, call 904-858-7045 or click below.