Sports like tennis, racquetball, squash, golf, and strength training put a lot of stress on the elbow. If these are your sports, you may be at risk for developing an overuse elbow injury.

Everybody is at risk for acute elbow injuries. Fractures, dislocations, and sprains are hard to prevent. They frequently result from a fall onto an outstretched arm, while you're biking, in-line skating, or playing volleyball, for example. If you get an injury that causes severe pain, swelling, or loss of function, seek medical care immediately. Any injury to the elbow is serious. Damage to a nerve at the elbow joint can lead to permanent loss of function in the muscles of the forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers. Swelling, lack of movement, and deformity result from fractures and dislocations.

Follow these steps:

1. Splint the injured arm. Secure it with an elastic wrap.
2. Apply a covered ice pack gently over the area for 10 to 30 minute intervals until help arrives.
3. Call Team Doctors at (773) 735-5200 and we will get you seen by Dr James Stoxen right away so you can be evaluated and treated. 
4. If you suspect it is fractured, dont worry because if it is you can take your xrays to the emergency room and let the doctor splint or cast you. 

Overuse injuries of the elbow are rarely emergencies. They develop over time. The more common ones are tennis elbow, pitcher's elbow, and Little League elbow.  If you have this type of injury you probably have a technique flaw in the mechanics of your movements and we can help analyse that and change the technique so the problem doesnt recurr

Tennis elbow is an inflamed tendon of the forearm extensor muscles that insert into the bony knob on the outside of the elbow. Weak muscles cause poor form. Add overuse, and tennis elbow results.

Pitcher's Elbow affects athletes who power snap their wrists downward and inward as part of a motion required in their sport. The tendon from the flexor muscles becomes inflamed. This problem is seen in baseball pitchers, golfers, rowers, and high-level tennis players.

Boxers Elbow is caused by a hyperextension from a jab but can come from any type of hyperextention.  Boxers also have elbow injuries from the impact of blocked punches.

Little League Elbow damages the growth plates at the ends of the forearm bones in the joint. The injury is caused by throwing motions. Any elbow pain felt by a child or teen should be taken seriously.

This form of curl causes the elbow to have motion which is not  natural.  This athlete will eventually have elbow spasms and pain.

Weightlifters Elbow is from poor form usually with curls but it can come with any exercise where the athlete is not allowing the normal motion of the elbow to occur.  For instance, if you wanted to check to see what the natural motion of the elbow was you would hold your arm at your side and have someone bend your elbow and allow it to move into its natural swinging motion. 

The best early care for overuse injuries is ice then immediate therapy and hands on care.  Dr Stoxen has treated numerous elbows in the office and as the team doctor for the world and national armwrestling teams (1986 - 1992) as well as American Powerlifting Federation doctor for 6 years (1986 - 1992).  Today he treats many top amature and professional boxers whom have many elbow injuries. Here you see Dr Stoxen treating a 3 time national Golden Gloves Champion at the national championships.

Elbow pain can be caused by many reasons. Even if one's suffering from neck pain, back pain or TMJ problems will also suffer elbow pain. Bad walking habits, wrong sitting posture, sleeping one sided for long can cause Elbow pain. Lifting too much of weight or improper physical exercise can also cause elbow pain.   Discomfort is most often located over the outside or lateral bony prominence of the elbow (called the epicondyle).  This problem area over the outside of the elbow is where a large tendon attaches to bone.  So it is important to be vigilant in your manner of walking, sitting, sleeping, lifting, exercising, to avoid elbow pain.

The joints in the elbow are the most active joints in the arms. Injuring can damage these joint or cause uncontrollable pain.  Bad writing habits, holding things in wrong manner, pushing in improper order can also cause pains at elbow & wrist. Arthritis can also be cause for elbow & wrist inflammation. With proper analysation these can be treated and cured.   Sports personals are borne to shoulder elbow wrist and palm pains.