Elbow Injuries – Elbow injuries are often hard to recognise. They can be sustained from intense elbow movement while playing racquet sports or golf, from gardening, or simply from falling on the elbow joint or an outstretched hand.

There are a number of proactive ways you can help prevent elbow injuries from occurring or reoccurring, including:

• Practicing regular strengthening exercises
• Thoroughly warming up and cooling down before and after exercise
• Using good technique and proper equipment when playing sports
• Avoiding or modifying any repetitive tasks that put excessive pressure on the muscles in the arm

Elastoplast offers a range of elbow injury management products to help you protect and care for you and your family.

As soon as possible after an elbow injury occurs or is evident, your first point of call should be to a qualified physician.

While you are waiting for a physician, be sure to rest the elbow in a comfortable and safe position close to the body. Apply a cold Elastoplast Hot/Cold Pack to the affected area for 20 minutes every 2 hours to help reduce any swelling.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist contact your healthcare practitioner.

You can also support the area with an Elastoplast Crepe Bandage or Elastoplast Tubular Bandage for slight compression and support or follow this taping technique to help to change the degree of tension around the injured elbow to help reduce pain:

1. Apply a full circular piece of Elastoplast Sport Elastowrap® Adhesive Underwrap around the upper forearm finishing about 3cm from the elbow joint.
2. Anchor a piece of 3.8cm Elastoplast sport tape on top of the Elastowrap® on the little finger side of your arm. Push the rigid tape across and over the thumb side of your arm and around back towards the little finger side.
3. Create a ‘pleating’ effect when you get back to the beginning, cut the piece of tape and secure it.

If, like most people, you aren’t near a computer when an injury occurs, Elastoplast have developed a helpful and easy-to-use mobile app for fast, injury management advice and tips – download the app here.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist contact your healthcare practitioner.

If you suspect an elbow injury it will usually be due to the straining of the tendons on the either the outside or inside of the elbow (nicknamed ‘tennis’ or ‘golfer’s’ elbow respectively), or a more serious dislocation or fracture in the elbow joint.

Common symptoms of an elbow injury include:

• Dull or throbbing ache of the injured elbow joint, when resting
• Soreness when making a fist on the injured arm (golfer’s elbow)
• Soreness when stretching out the fingers on the injured arm (tennis elbow)
• Aching around the affected elbow
• Pain and weakness when trying to grip objects

Although it is helpful to be educated on elbow injuries, accurate diagnosis by a qualified professional is crucial to the appropriate treatment of your elbow injury.