Gymnasts are at risk of elbow injuries, which can lead to pain and inability to perform daily functions. There are many conditions that cause elbow pain. You should seek medical attention immediately after an elbow injury to determine the source of the pain. Knowing what causes your elbow pain can help you to avoid further elbow damage and determine the most effective treatment.
Bursitis
Gymnasts who experience elbow pain may have bursitis. Bursae are fluid-filled cavities located near joints where muscles or tendons pass over bony projections, such as in the elbow. Bursitis is an inflammation of these cavities. This condition can be short-term or last a lifetime. Continuous overuse, infection, rheumatoid arthritis or gout can cause bursitis. Bursitis commonly occurs not only in the elbow, but in the knee, shoulder, Achilles' tendon, foot and hip. Signs of bursitis include pain, tenderness, stiffness, warmth, swelling or redness of the joint.
Osteoarthritis of the Elbow
Your elbow pain may stem from osteoarthritis, which occurs when the elbow's cartilage becomes worn or damaged. This occurs when there have been previous injuries, such as elbow dislocation or fracture. Degeneration of the joint cartilage due to age can also cause osteoarthritis. The elbow joint usually maintains its stability and tolerates force, so it is not common for osteoarthritis to affect this joint. However, because gymnasts use their elbows to pull up and balance themselves so they are at risk of wearing the elbow joint and developing osteoarthritis.
Elbow Strain
Overuse of muscles and tendons in the elbow over a long period of time can cause an elbow strain. If a gymnast lands incorrectly, forcing a sudden hyperextension of the elbow, she may suffer an elbow strain. A mild elbow strain involves no tearing of muscle or tendon. A moderate strain includes tearing of muscle or tendon fibers with diminished strength. The most serious elbow strain is categorized as severe, involving separation of the muscle and tendon fibers from the bone, and requiring surgical repair.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis players are not the only athletes susceptible to a condition called tennis elbow. If you are a gymnast and you feel pain in your elbow, you may be experiencing tennis elbow. Tennis elbow causes pain and occurs when tendons in the elbow are overused, usually by repeated straightening of the forearm and raising the hand and wrist. Inflammation or tears in the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the elbow result in tennis elbow. Recovery from this condition involves resting, ice, compression and elevation of the elbow above the heart.
