The elbow is the joint in your arm that connects your forearm to your upper arm and allows your arm to bend.

Like most joints in your body, there are several ways to injure your elbow. Most elbow injuries fall into one of two categories: the acute injury, which occurs when a sudden impact twists, jerks, jams, or bends your elbow abnormally; and the overuse injury that occurs through the wear and tear of constantly using your elbow.

Listed below are several elbow injuries that fall into these two categories. These listings are intended for informational purposes only; if you believe you have injured your elbow, please click here to request an appointment at OA, or call us at 812-424-9291 or 800-264-1208.

Acute Injuries

• Bruises from a tear or rupture of small blood vessels under the skin
• Injuries to ligaments, the ropelike fibers that connect bones to bones around joints
• Injuries to tendons that connect muscles to bones
• Injuries to joints (sprains) that stretch or tear the ligaments
• Pulled muscles (strains) caused by overstretching muscles
• Muscle tears or ruptures, such as your biceps or triceps in your upper arm
• Broken bones of the upper arm bone or the forearm bones at the elbow joint
• Dislocations, when the elbow joint is knocked out of its regular socket

Overuse Injuries

• Bursitis–Swelling behind the elbow may be olecranon bursitis.
• Tendinosis–A series of microtears in the connective tissue in or around the tendon
• Tennis Elbow–Soreness or pain felt on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow is the most common type of tendinopathy that affects the elbow and most often is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles. This overuse may occur during sports, such as tennis, swimming, golf, and sports involving throwing; jobs, such as carpentry or plumbing; or daily activities, such as lifting objects or gardening.
• Golfer's Elbow–Soreness or pain in the inner (medial) part of the elbow; in children who participate in sports that involve throwing, the same elbow pain may be described as Little Leaguer's Elbow.
• Radial Tunnel Syndrome–The pinching of the deep radial nerve near the elbow joint usually occurs with repeated motions.

Source: American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons