Lifting-induced elbow discomfort: Origin, remedies, and additional details
Elbow pain can be a common issue, particularly for those who engage in repetitive lifting or wrist and arm movements. This article aims to provide an overview of the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for elbow pain, as well as preventive measures to keep your elbows healthy.
Causes of Elbow Pain
The most frequent cause of elbow pain is tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis. This condition results from overuse and repetitive stress on the forearm muscles and tendons, especially those involved in gripping and extending the wrist.
Another cause is repetitive strain injuries (RSI), which occur due to repetitive or strenuous elbow movements, causing pain, stiffness, and weakness.
Nerve compression conditions, such as cubital tunnel syndrome, can also cause elbow pain. Cubital tunnel syndrome involves compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow, leading to pain, tingling, and numbness, especially worsened by prolonged use or pressure on the elbow.
Pronator teres syndrome is another nerve compression condition where the median nerve becomes trapped by the pronator teres muscle, causing an aching in the forearm, wrist, or hand.
Posterior interosseous nerve syndrome is a less common condition where a branch of the radial nerve becomes entrapped near the outside of the elbow, causing weakness of the wrist and fingers.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tennis elbow include an aching sensation on the outside of the elbow, a sharp pain, swelling, and worsening symptoms over time. Symptoms of a dislocated elbow include a loss of feeling in the area, an inability to move the wrist, fingers, or hand, an inability to twist or bend the elbow, and a loss of pulse in the wrist.
A fractured elbow can occur when a part of the humerus, radius, or ulna bone breaks near the elbow. Symptoms include swelling or bruising, stiffness, a snapping sound at the time of injury, an elbow being visibly out of place, numbness in the arm, wrist, or hand, weakness in the arm, wrist, or hand, and sustained pain.
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment options generally include rest and activity modification, ice therapy, physical therapy, bracing or taping, medications, and in severe cases, surgery.
Preventive measures revolve around proper technique, equipment use, and conditioning. This includes proper warm-up and stretching before activities, avoiding improper technique or excessive grip force, using ergonomically designed tools or equipment, gradually increasing workload, and seeking early treatment once pain or discomfort begins.
Injury to the elbow can manifest into arthritis over time, and repetitive motions and excessive weights are common causes of strain in the upper limbs. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition affecting the joints, can also cause inflammation, swelling, and pain, and can cause joint damage over time.
In summary, repetitive stress and overuse, especially from gripping and lifting, are the primary causes of elbow pain. Conservative treatment with rest, ice, therapy, and bracing is effective for most cases, with surgery reserved for severe or chronic conditions. Preventive measures revolve around proper technique, equipment use, and conditioning to keep your elbows healthy.
Science highlights that chronic diseases like tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and repetitive strain injuries (RSI) are common causes of elbow pain, particularly for those engaging in repetitive lifting or wrist and arm movements. Nerve compression conditions, such as cubital tunnel syndrome and various nerve compression syndromes (like pronator teres syndrome and posterior interosseous nerve syndrome), can also lead to elbow pain. To manage symptoms and prevent future issues, health-and-wellness strategies emphasize proper technique, equipment use, and regular fitness-and-exercise routines that include warm-ups and stretching.
