Baseball Elbow: Causes and Treatment

Baseball elbow or golfer’s elbow are some of the most common names given to medial epicondylitis. This condition is characterized by pain in the arm specifically from the elbow to the wrist. This pain can be more intense during certain movements. To understand how it works, let us first review a little about the anatomy of the elbow.

There are a hinge and a pivot structure in the elbow joints. These joints attach the upper arm bone; the humerus, with the forearm bones; the radius, and the ulna. In the middle, we find the olecranon which is the visible pointy bone in the elbow.   

We find ligaments attaching and protecting these bones, and in the middle of this, there is the ulnar nerve, which ends in the fingers. Finally, there are muscles and tendons holding everything together and giving strength and movement to the whole arm.

Having a better idea of what it all looks like from the inside, it is possible to understand better the causes of the baseball elbow. As its name illustrates, this issue is caused by repetitively applying pressure while moving the wrist to the front of the hand, a similar movement to the one a golfer does when swinging the golf stick or the one a baseball player does to pitch a baseball. Hence, its name. No wonder this condition is so common in golfers and baseball players. However, athletes are not the only ones affected by this issue, people in other jobs that require doing similar movements are at risk. People whose jobs require them to work on a computer, to cook, to paint, to play an instrument, to lift a weight, and others. Since tendons are the tissues in between bones, they cushion them and these repeated motions along with the pressure can cause their swelling.

Medial epicondylitis is a type of tendonitis and as such, it is characterized by symptoms of swelling, pain in the internal part of the elbow or the frontal part of the forearm, and the palm. Tingling around the fingers and numbness are among the most common symptoms. The swelling of the elbow tendons can affect the development of daily activities that compromise not only the elbow but also the hand and the fingers.

As it is typically done for inflammations, applying ice can be a short-term solution for this symptom. Apply ice to the affected area for approximately 20 minutes, at least three times a day. An expert can recommend the patient a physical therapy plan to follow. This will include specific kinds of stretching and other exercises that can be done safely and that will help recovering motion in cases where numbness or difficulty to move the arm is a symptom. A brace could also be necessary in some cases.

Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201  Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119