The elbow joint consists of the ulna, radius and humerus. These bones articulate with each other so that a rotational movement and a bending and stretching movement can take place. The joint is stabilized by ligaments, capsules and muscles. A fall on the outstretched hand can lead to a dislocation in the elbow joint, in which a ligament usually tears. Likewise, a blow or throw from the side onto the stretched elbow can lead to hyperextension, in which a ligament can also tear.
Treatment/Therapy
Immediately after the trauma, first aid is particularly important:
- Cooling, compression bandaging, high storage and a longer break are the necessary first steps. Further examinations should be performed immediately to rule out fracture and dislocation (PECH rule). If the elbow joint is not immobilized, it should be provided with a bandage to immobilize the elbow joint. In the first 4-6 weeks it is important to keep the joint as still as possible so that the healing of the ligament works without problems. The physiotherapeutic therapy is strongly oriented on the wound healing phases of the tissue:
Exercises
Exercises should only be performed by the patient when the ligament is stable, otherwise a rupture may occur. The following exercises can be used to improve mobility: Hand supported on the wall, shoulder moves to the wall and back again Stand: Bend elbow and pull back next to the body, palm points upwards and moves towards the shoulder, then extend arm and palm points forward and fingers upwards Exercises to improve strength: Further exercises can be found under Exercises for a torn ligament at the elbow
- Hand supported on the wall, shoulder moves to the wall and back
- Stand: Bend elbows and pull back beside body, palm points up and moves towards shoulder, then extend arm and palm points forward and fingers up
- All elbow support exercises can be used to improve strength. At the beginning, forearm support and hand support can be performed with the knees upright so that the load is not immediately too extreme on the elbow. If the exercises remain painless, they can be performed with stretched legs.
- An increase can be achieved by moving the extremities. Triceps exercises on a rope pull or with dumbbells are also suitable for building up muscles.
- Stabilization training can be carried out by throwing the affected arm, supporting it on uneven surfaces or by using other aids such as sling trainers or swing sticks.
