This article, in which we analyze the causes, symptoms and treatment of elbow joint injuries, concerns not only athletes but also the majority of society.
Get a ball big enough to fill your palm. Squeeze and loosen this ball. And rotate around your wrist. Do you feel pain? If yes, you should read the article a little more carefully.
Unfortunately, elbow joint injuries are not only about athletes. Elbow joint disorders seen in 1-3% of the society may go up to 5% due to wrong movements in the business life.
What is Tendon?
The structures that connect the muscles to the bone are called tendons. Although the tendons are mostly water, they are composed of connective tissue-forming proteins such as collagen 1, glycosaminoglycan and elastin. High stress and chronic damage cause tendons to shorten and become inflamed. Tendons heal late due to poor vascularity. In some cases, it may take up to 2 years.
Decreasing collagen synthesis in the elderly also makes it difficult to repair the joints. Aging is an important risk factor for joint diseases.
Risk Factors for Elbow Injuries
Women: Women are more prone to arthritis than men. In addition, women have a greater range of joint mobility risk to them brings extra risk.
Aging: Tissue repair capacity decreases with age. At the same time, prolonged tissue repair time increases the risk of a new disability.
Fat: Fat tissue secretes many agents that accelerate inflammation.
Smoking: Smoking increases the amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gases competing with oxygen to transport in the blood. Reduced oxygen content will prolong tissue repair time.
Type of work and tempo: grip and placement with high weight, type of packaging, bodybuilding athletes chronically injure their elbows for long periods of time.
What is elbow bursitis?
Bursa is normally flat and unclear between the skin and the hard bone layer; It is a liquid filled pouch that cuts the connection of the skin with the skin so that the weak structures are not exposed to impacts. The infection of the sac is called bursitis. Elbow bursitis is seen as swelling in the sac and a mass behind the elbow that gives a soft inside full of fluid. Occasionally, a red-purple color can form with capillary blood flow into the bursa. Bursitis is usually caused by impact, open fractures, persistent stress and metabolic diseases.
Symptoms of elbow bursitis
Swelling with pain and warmth behind elbow
Elbow joint stiffness
Complaints related to infection in some cases
How do I avoid elbow bursitis?
Avoid activities that put pressure on your elbow for a long time
Take care not to hit your elbow
Try to control your metabolic diseases.
Bursitis treatment
Resting
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Draining the fluid content of an inflamed bursa
Bandages and bandages
Finally, in patients with persistent bursitis, a scholarship is performed.
What is the elbow of a tennis player and golfer?
Tennis elbow is a problem characterized by pain in the protruding lateral epicondylitis area of the elbow facing the outer (lateral) side. Golfer’s elbow, which is similar to tennis elbow, is caused by injury and inflammation of the tendons around the medial (inner) side of the elbow.
Although pain severity and shape are similar in both disorders, it is the painful areas that make the difference. The terms lateral (external) and medial (internal) used in naming refer to the site of pain. Pain in the elbow of the tennis elbow, which is called lateral epicondylitis, occurs on the outside of the elbow, while pain in the elbow called medial epicondylitis is in the elbow. Pain in elbow of tennis player and golfer; chronic damage is caused by inflammation of the nerve fibers and soft tissue.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow (Lateral epicondylitis)
Pain in the upper part of the arm, immediately outside and below the elbow. Usually this type of pain spreads to the wrist
Feeling pain when lifting an object, bending the arm or grasping something
Difficulty extending the lower part of the arm from the elbow forward
Feeling pain with touch on lower edge of elbow
Tension in the forearm muscles
Unable to fully extend the handle
Generally, pain lasting between 6 and 12 weeks. The feeling of discomfort in the period lasts from 3 weeks to one year.
Symptoms of golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
Pain in the inner elbow (usually during activity or after intensive use)
It increases during bending of the wrist and usually spreads into the forearm.
Pain in resisting twisting of the wrist.
How can I avoid elbow injuries?
Keep your forearm muscles strong. This will reduce the stress on your tendons.
Don’t forget to stretch your forearm muscles after warming up
Use the right technique when working with your forearm.
Find the right technique especially for your backhand if you are playing tennis.
Perform the forearm stretching movements after the training competition or workout.
When grasping any object, make sure your palm looks at your body.
Treatment principles for tennis and golfer elbow
Cold treatment should be the first intervention when elbow pain is felt.
Use of anti-inflammatory drugs (asprin, ibuprofen, naproxen and cream-based topical anti-inflammatory)
Special elbow bands and physical therapy
Injection of cortisol
Surgical treatment of stubborn injuries
Recommendations for joint health
I’m going to have some beginner recommendations to keep your joint health safe.
Exercise
Functioning iron is a must for joint health. Light and accurate exercise that does not harm the joints ensures the production and maintenance of proteins that are the building blocks of the joint. Collagen production and destruction in the joints increases within 24 hours after exercise. Within the next 48 hours, degradation is reduced and the collagen produced is organized. Collagen production shows us that there is healing.
Exercising continuously and steadily will cause injuries to your joints from the same place. You understand the importance of changing the training system and resting when you are implementing intensive training programs, right?
Choose compound exercises rather than isolated exercises.
Listen to your body. If you experience pain during exercise, stop or change the exercise. Consult your doctor.
Exercise correctly.
Practice joint-friendly training.
Don’t do the same exercises all the time.
Nutrition
Nutrition is one of the important factors for reducing inflammation and reconstruction in the joints.
Omega-3, turmeric, ginger are natural anti-inflammatory sources.
Nutrition rich in vitamins C, A, D and zinc.
Make sure you get enough protein.
Sugar supports inflammation. Avoid high sugar diets.
