Introduction
Inflammation of the periosteum (periostitis) on the elbow mainly affects athletes. The periosteum is a thin layer that surrounds every bone in the human body and serves to supply the bone tissue with nutrients. The periosteum contains blood and lymph vessels as well as nerve tracts, which is why periostitis is extremely painful. The inflammation causes the elbow on the affected side to become swollen, reddened and painful. Usually, the periosteitis at the elbow heals by itself by taking it easy on the body.
Causes
In most cases, periostitis of the elbow is due to excessive physical activity. The periosteum becomes irritated and inflamed due to overexertion. The causes include not only too intensive training but also incorrect arm positioning or a change in training technique.
The most common forms of periostitis of the elbow that can be traced back to excessive sporting activity include tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. In general, monotonous movements in the elbow joint that are always performed in the same way cause periosteal inflammation, which is why not only athletes are affected. Cleaning windows, gardening, making music or long computer work with the mouse are also causes of periostitis.
In rare cases, an infection, for example from a previous surgical procedure or a bacterial or disease (e.g. tuberculosis or syphilis), can also lead to periosteitis. Sporting overexertion is one of the most common triggers of periosteal inflammation at the elbow. Especially in sports like tennis or golf the elbow is used a lot and put under a lot of strain.
However, other activities, which involve certain forearm movements that always occur in the same way, also promote periostitis of the elbow. In order for the inflammation of the periosteum to heal as quickly as possible, it is necessary to take a consistent break from sports and to immobilize the elbow as much as possible. Without physical rest, periostitis does not heal or heals only very slowly, in many cases it can take several months.
It is therefore important to consult a doctor early on at the first signs of pain in the elbow and to start a suitable therapy. Tennis elbow (or tennis elbow) is the colloquial term for epicondylitis humeri lateralis. This is an inflammation of the tendon attachment at the bony prominence of the elbow (epicondylus humeri lateralis) on the side where the thumb is.
Through intensive training or the same sequence of movements from the elbow joint, a certain muscle group on the forearm, the hand extensors, is overstrained. As a result, the muscle attachment at the elbow becomes inflamed and a so-called tennis elbow develops. But not only tennis players can get tennis elbow: Frequent computer work (especially on the “mouse hand”), making music with string instruments or injuries can also lead to periosteitis on the elbow.
You can find detailed information about the treatment under The therapy of tennis elbow. The periosteum at the elbow can become inflamed not only on the thumb side, but also on the side of the little finger, at the epicondylus humeri medialis. This clinical picture is accordingly called epicondylitis humeri medialis or golfer’s elbow (golfer’s arm).
Here, the muscles that bend the hand (hand flexors or flexors) are overused. This causes the smallest injuries at the muscle attachment and the periosteum of the elbow becomes inflamed. Patients suffer from pain on the inside of the elbow, which gets worse when the hand is moved (such as grasping, bending or stretching). In addition to golf, computer work or other regular strain (e.g. in housework or handicrafts) are among the causes of a golfer’s elbow.
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