Elbow sprain is a soft tissue injury to the ligaments around the elbow. Ligaments connect bone to bone and prevent excessive movement around a joint. If a joint is excessively moved in one direction, the ligaments can overstretch. This overstretch of ligaments is called a sprain.
There are ligaments on the inside of the elbow – the medial collateral ligaments (MCL).
There are also ligaments on the outside of the elbow – the lateral collateral ligaments (LCL). Lateral elbow sprain is the most common type of sprain.
Lateral Epicondylitis – lateral elbow sprain
The most common type of elbow sprain involves the ligaments of the outer elbow (lateral side). Often referred to as tennis elbow because the repetitive action of back swinging a tennis racket can put excessive force on the outside of the elbow. This can lead to overstretching or overuse of the ligaments on the outside of the elbow.
It is also often seen among carpenters, plumbers, mechanics and office workers. This is because these professions often require a lot of hand gripping and twisting. Some of the muscles that allow you to grip and use the hand travel up the arm and attached onto the bone around the elbow.
Signs and symptoms of lateral epicondylitis
- Localised pain or tenderness over the outside of the elbow
- No visible swelling or bruising
- Pain when gripping. Grip strength can be reduced as a result of the pain
- Usually pain is intermittent – often worse with movement and can feel stiff after a period of rest
- The pain usually begins gradually
Treatment for lateral epicondylitis
While elbow sprains often get better with time and rest, progress can be slow. Treatment is likely to include
- Avoiding aggravating triggers for a period
- Ice
- Osseous manipulation of the elbow or arm
- Soft tissue trigger points
- Home stretches and exercise
- For carpenters: using larger padded handle tools and padded gloves can help with shock absorption
Do you have more questions? Contact us at Beverley or Nafferton
