CrossFit – friend or foe for healthy shoulders?
December 17, 2024
Elbow pain – what we do is reflected in what hurts us
Elbow pain is a term commonly used in a sense that sometimes undervalues the symptoms of those who actually have painful complaints in this region. In fact, there are several pathologies that can affect the structures located here and that are often associated with certain work, sports or leisure activities of each individual..
What are the most common pathologies in the workplace?
There are some professional groups that may be more prone to elbow problems, such as epicondylitis or tendonitis. In jobs that involve repetitive manual movements, such as operating industrial machines, cleaning, or even those that require the use of a mouse and keyboard, the common tendons of the extensor and flexor muscles are constantly required to perform these movements. Therefore, repetitive movements can lead to their degeneration and wear. Pain arises progressively or, less commonly, after trauma, more localized to the inner or outer region of the elbow.
In workers whose activities require efforts with heavier loads, tendon ruptures (of the biceps brachii, for example) or traumatic injuries such as fractures or fracture-dislocations of the elbow may occur, with intense pain and immediate functional limitation.
Can elbow pain be influenced by the sport played?
Certain sports are classically associated with elbow pathology, of which tennis is a classic example due to lateral epicondylitis – tennis elbow. However, other sports have an increased incidence of certain pathologies responsible for pain and limited performance.
In younger players of throwing sports (baseball being the most commonly described sport), pain on the inside of the elbow caused by the pulling force exerted by the common flexor tendon is described as “Little League Elbow.” In this region there is a growth plate that is constantly pulled by the strong muscles that attach to it, causing inflammation or even separation of the plate from the remaining bone.
In this age group – adolescents who practice throwing sports – a condition called Osteochondritis Dissecans of the humeral condyle is also common. It is characterized by damage to the cartilage that can separate from the rest of the joint surface and cause pain and effusion that worsen with effort and improve with rest.
In contact sports such as rugby or American football, or those with a risk of high-energy trauma such as motorcycling or mountain biking, fractures and dislocations around the elbow are common injuries that require urgent assessment and treatment.
What treatments are available for elbow injuries?
When considering elbow pathologies that occur over time, due to overload or repetitive microtrauma, conservative treatment should be attempted initially. This treatment consists of adapting work functions or sports movements, rehabilitation and possibly the use of elbow orthoses. When complaints persist, regenerative therapies such as platelet-rich plasma may be considered, especially in cases of epicondylitis where there appears to be a significant healing effect and improvement in pain. Surgical treatment is reserved for the most severe cases or those that do not respond to previous treatments. Minimally invasive techniques or even arthroscopy are available options, depending on the structures affected.
Traumatic injuries, such as fractures or dislocations, or acute tendon ruptures (most commonly of the biceps brachii), require urgent treatment. Surgery is often necessary to align the fragments or reinsert the injured structures. It also allows for faster mobilization to avoid the stiffness that often develops.
A consultation with a specialist in this area allows for a careful assessment and the design of treatment plans appropriate to each person’s occupation and functional requirements, in a personalized approach to each case.
