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The Elbow-its Many Uses and Injuries!
Written By: Dr. Sue Aery - Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture | Issue: 2017/04 - April
The elbow is the connecting joint between the hand and shoulder.
Yes, we all know that! The elbow joint is important in many ways for movement, leverage and lifting. Whether you’re an athlete or not, the elbow’s function is very important in assisting the hand in dynamic movement. The wrist is basically to help with fine motor skills of the hand and fingers but the elbow is designed to provide leverage with its levers and pulleys of muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones. Rotation of the hand, also called supination and pronation, is also a vital function that the elbow performs.
The main muscles that move the elbow are the biceps and triceps, which also attach to the shoulder. Injuries to any of these muscles will undoubtedly end up including elbow pain. Golf, tennis and throwing sports can lead to overuse injuries of the tendons and ligaments, commonly known as Tennis Elbow and Golf Elbow. Tendonitis occurs when the injury causes inflammation and the tendon pulls away from the bone. Ligament injury can cause instability and significant pain as well as inflammation. And then there is the Funny Bone, a very surface level nerve called the Ulnar Nerve, which can often become inflamed with use and overuse.
Many approaches exist for healing and prevention of future injury. A few of these include acupuncture, ultrasound therapy, massage and drug intervention to reduce pain and inflammation. It’s also a good idea to remove the causative factor long enough for the healing to take place and strength and balance to be restored.
Healing takes time mainly because of the demand on this joint for our daily needs and chores. The hand is essential to our daily mode of operation, and most people find it very hard to curtail its use! Be patient with the healing but do take care of it so that you will have full use in the future. It is also important to establish and maintain muscular balance as well as strength and length. Stretching and strengthening are two major components of rehabilitation in order to prevent subsequent injury!
Remember that the elbow allows you to eat and drink so let it heal and keep it well!
