Elbow Injuries

The elbow is the junction of three bones: the humerus, the radius, and ulna. It is a complex joint that permits extension and flexion of the lower arm and allows for rotation of the wrist and hand. There are a variety of ways you can injure your elbow. Some of the most common injuries are incurred by athletes who play sports, however there are many people who do not play sports, but still sustain injuries because of their hobbies, activities, or occupations which require similar movements to that of sports. Our surgeons at Palm Beach Sports Medicine can diagnose and treat elbow injuries and conditions with surgical and non-surgical interventions.

Common Types of Elbow Pain and Injuries

Pitcher’s Elbow – Often referred to as Little League Elbow, Pitcher’s elbow is an injury caused by excessive throwing motions often used in baseball. Pitcher’s elbow causes pain and can interfere with the motion of the elbow which influences athletic performance. Most cases of Pitcher’s elbow are treated conservatively through rest and supervised physical therapy.
Golfer’s Elbow & Tennis Elbow – Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is discomfort or irritation occurring on the inner side of the arm and elbow that is caused by activities that require repeated flexing or twisting of the wrist and repeated lifting at the elbow joint. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is discomfort or irritation occurring on the outside of the arm and elbow. It is a common overuse injury resulting from repetitive motion involving the tendons in your elbow. Treatment for Golfer’s elbow and Tennis elbow depends on the severity of your pain, but may include: bracing, cortisone injections, PRP injections, physical therapy, and in certain cases surgery.
Fracture or Dislocation – Elbow pain could also be the result of a fracture or dislocation. When you fall it’s a natural reaction to try and brace yourself with your arm, which can lead to an elbow injury. Treatment may include immobilization with a splint or sling, or surgery in severe cases.

At Palm Beach Sports Medicine, we want to prevent these injuries, and reduce the number of young athletes who need treatment. To that end, we work not only with baseball players, but also their parents and coaches, to provide education about the proper way to protect their joints while pitching. Additionally, our Physical Therapy staff and our surgeons work closely together to offer Thrower’s 10 and Advanced Throwers’ 10 protocols to help prevent future injuries to the elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament, tears of the shoulder labrum, biceps injuries, and scapular motion problems.

book an appointment

Elbow Injuries

Common Types of Elbow Pain and Injuries

what our patients say