An elbow injury can be a painful experience that may require the skilled services of a physical therapist.
The elbow is an example of a hinge joint or a joint that moves in only one direction.
Your elbow joint bends and straightens like a hinge on a door.
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The Elbow’s Ligaments
Ligaments are strong pieces of cartilage that connect one bone to another.
They help provide support to your joints while still allowing for a motion to occur.
Ligaments are essential for providing your elbow joint with stability while still allowing for a motion to occur.
If an injury occurs to the elbow joint, any one of these ligaments may be injured.
The ligament called annular, courses around the head of your radius bone.
The ulnar collateral ligament is a strong fan-shaped condensation of the fibrous joint capsule.
This ligament guards your elbow against severe valgus stress or pressure from the outside of your arm.
The radial collateral ligament is also a strong fan-shaped condensation of the fibrous joint capsule.
This ligament guards the joint against excessive varus, or inner to outer, stress.
Injuries to ligaments may include overstretching or tearing.
The last thing you want is to treat a serious elbow fracture like a minor strain.
After an elbow injury, you may benefit from using theR.I.C.E.
methodto help control the inflammation process.The RICE acronym stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Rest your elbow, apply an ice pack, and elevate your arm to minimize the swelling.
Some physical therapists are now advocating theP.O.L.I.C.E.
This stands for protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, and elevation.
You may benefit from a gentle range of motion exercises for your elbow after an injury.
Again, your PT can prescribe the correct exercises for your condition.
The ligaments of your joint play an essential role in maintaining stability to your elbow.
2014;203(6):1272-1279. doi:10.2214/ajr.13.12263.
