Pain - elbow

• Reduce how much time you spend doing the activity that causes the pain.
• Warm up slowly. Stretch the forearm before, during, and after exercise.
• Use an "elbow sleeve" to help keep your elbow warm while playing.
• Use ice or ibuprofen after the activity to prevent swelling and pain, if you have had an elbow injury in the past.
• Prevent tennis elbow by using the correct grip size, a two-handed backhand, and racquet strings that are not too tight.
• Wear an "elbow band" over an injured or rehabilitated area to prevent further injury and reduce pain.
• Perform regular stretching and strengthening exercises (given to you by your physical therapist or doctor).
• To prevent nursemaid's elbow in children, do not pull on a straightened arm. Avoid lifting or holding the child up by the hands or forearm. Children who get nursemaid's elbow once can easily get it again. Usually this is outgrown by age 4.

Ronthal M. Arm and neck pain. In: Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J, eds. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2008:chap 32.

Regan WD, Grondin PP, Morrey BF. Elbow and forearm. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 19.

Review Date: 07/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)