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Elbow Injuries and Disorders
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Injuries Wounds

Elbow Injuries and Disorders

Elbow problems arise when the complex structures of the joint—including bone, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, and tendons—are injured or diseased.

Overview

Your elbow joint is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments, and fluid, with muscles and tendons facilitating movement. When any of these structures is hurt or diseased, you experience elbow problems.

Causes of Elbow Pain

Many factors can contribute to elbow pain. A common cause is tendinitis, an inflammation or injury to the tendons that attach muscle to bone. This is often a sports injury resulting from activities like tennis or golf, or from general overuse of the elbow.

Other causes of elbow pain include:

  • Sprains and strains
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Dislocations
  • Bursitis
  • Arthritis

Treatment

Treatment for elbow injuries and disorders depends entirely on the underlying cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience a visible deformity, inability to move the elbow, severe swelling that develops rapidly, or if the pain follows a high-impact trauma like a fall or sports collision. These are signs of a fracture or dislocation that require urgent reduction or stabilization to prevent nerve or blood vessel damage. If you cannot bend or straighten your arm after an injury, do not attempt to force movement.
rthritis is a chronic, degenerative condition that typically presents with gradual onset of stiffness, particularly in the morning, and a grinding or clicking sensation during movement. Pain is often deep and persistent. In contrast, a sprain is an acute injury to the ligaments that occurs suddenly after a specific event, such as a fall or twist. Sprain pain is usually sharp and localized to the side of the elbow, accompanied by immediate swelling and bruising, and improves with rest.
Recovery times vary significantly based on the severity and type of injury. A mild sprain or strain often improves within two to four weeks with rest and ice. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a chronic overuse injury that can take three to six months to resolve, and in some cases up to a year if conservative treatments like physical therapy and activity modification are not strictly followed. Consistent adherence to rehabilitation exercises is the most critical factor in shortening recovery time.
To prevent aggravating tendinitis, avoid repetitive gripping, lifting heavy objects with the wrist bent, or activities that involve sudden jerking motions of the forearm. This includes heavy weightlifting, playing tennis or golf with improper technique, and even prolonged use of vibrating tools or typing with poor ergonomics. Modifying your grip to be more relaxed and using ergonomic tools can significantly reduce the strain on the tendons attached to the elbow.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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