If you’ve been in an accident contact sports or have performed heavy lifting then you’re likely to have elbow hyperextension treatment. The elbow is a joint thats made up of three bones the humerus, radius and ulna.
The humero ulna articulation is the largest of the three joints and its responsible for flexion and extension of the arm. When its injured damage to the ligaments, tendons and bones can occur.
Strengthening Exercises
Elbow hyperextension is a common injury that causes pain, tenderness and the inability to fully move your elbow the injury may also cause damage to your tendons, ligaments or bones.
The treatment for this condition usually includes resting the joint long enough to allow your connective tissues the time they need to heal followed by exercises designed to strengthen and stretch your elbow. Your physical therapist can help you decide on the best strengthening exercises for your elbow as well as teach you how to perform them correctly.
Start with mild isometric exercises such as those that require you to activate the muscles but don’t change their length such as biceps stretches. Once you are able to do these successfully you can progress onto more challenging strength and flexibility exercises.
You can also prevent hyperextension by practicing proper form when participating in contact sports or other strenuous physical activities such as gymnastics or boxing. A qualified coach or instructor can teach you how to properly perform these activities and lower your risk of a hyperextension injury.
Manual Therapy
The elbow is a joint made up of three bones the humerus in the upper arm and the radius and ulna in the lower arm that articulate together. When these bones are put under pressure they stretch and bend backwards out of their normal range of movement.
Tendons and ligaments work with muscles to help keep the elbow in its proper position. However, a strong blow to the elbow can cause these structures to be put under stress beyond what they’re designed to handle.
The resulting damage can lead to pain, swelling and reduced movement in the elbow joint. Physical therapy can help restore your elbow mobility by focusing on stretching and strengthening the tendons, ligaments and muscles surrounding the joint.
Electrotherapy
Elbow hyperextension happens when the elbow joint is forced backwards placing more stress on the ligaments and tendons than they are designed to handle. This can damage the collagen fibers that make up tendons and ligaments, fraying or breaking them.
The treatment of elbow hyperextension often includes pain relieving medications ice and rest to help the joint heal properly. A professional therapist can also use electrotherapy such as ultrasound to reduce pain and swelling.
Electrotherapy uses small electrical impulses to block pain signals promote healing and improve blood circulation. It can be very effective in musculoskeletal injuries especially when used in conjunction with other therapies such as manual therapy.
Pain Management
Elbow hyperextension is often caused by a sudden force that puts too much strain on the elbow joint. Examples include getting hit in sports or falling.
Symptoms of this injury may include pain, tenderness, loss of strength or stiffness in the elbow and forearm. Doctors will diagnose the condition by taking a medical history and conducting a physical examination.
A therapist can help you manage your elbow hyperextension by providing exercises, stretches and other treatments to help with your recovery. They will also teach you how to prevent this condition from happening again.
Over the counter pain relief medications can also be used for mild cases of elbow hyperextension. Combined with other treatments like RICE these can reduce inflammation and pain.
If the condition is severe or not responding to treatment surgery can be recommended. Depending on the extent of the damage, your doctor will recommend either open or arthroscopic elbow surgery.