Steemit Learning Challenge-S22W5; Golfer's Elbow" by @rossnenye
| What's a golfer's elbow? |
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Golfer Elbow also known as Medial Epicondylitis
is a Medical Condition that occurs when Inflammation of Tendons around the elbow joint occurs. This causes the inflammation of Tendons on the medial side or Epicondyle in the elbow.
Tissue damage which can be classified into three categories based on severity, tendonsis, tendinitis, which means inflammation of a Tendon. It usually happens to Golf players as a result of hyperflexion on the Wrist and elbow joint.
| Causes of golfer's elbow? |
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- Overuse/Repetitive use
Overuse of the elbow joint, this is common amongst golf players which occurs when they move their elbow in wrong position.
- Sudden Trauma/Injury
Direct Injury or fall on the elbow joint can equally cause this.
- Poor posture
Wrong use of arm and elbow joint in carrying things or sleeping patterns can equally cause this.
- Age-related wear and tear of the Shoulder region
As people age, there is wear and tear in the elbow region which can cause this.
History of such Injury in the past can occur again.
Common among Golf players.
| Symptoms of golfer's elbow? |
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- Pain and tenderness
The patient feels pain and tenderness on the affected elbow. Swelling or redness might occur if the Tendon gets inflamed on the Medial side.
- Weakness
The patient feels weakness or fatigue as a result of reduced strength in the elbow joint due to the fact that the weight bearing joint is affected.
- Numbness
The patient also feels numbness or tingling sensation in the finger or wrist occasionally as a result of Muscle weakness and nerve Compression.
- Reduction in range of motion
There is decrease in the amount of motion as a result of stiffness in the elbow region and difficulty in bending the wrist.
| Types of Golfer's Elbow |
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- Mild
In this type, Inflammation and irritation occurs around the elbow region. There is also mild pain and stiffness in the elbow joint that minimally affects Activities of Daily Living.
- Moderate
In this type, stiffness and moderate pain is felt in the elbow region medially by the patient and which affects Activities of Daily Living.
- Severe
This is last and also the most severe type of Golfer's Elbow. The patient feels severe pain and stiffness around the elbow in the Medial aspect. The patient encounters difficulty in performing daily tasks like reducing and gripping strength.
| Stages of Golfer's Elbow |
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They're three stages of Golfer's Elbow based on the duration of the ailments and they includes the following
- Acute Stage
At this stage, there is onset of pain and inflammation.
- Subacute Stage
These stage lasts for less than a month after onset of symptoms.
- Chronic stage
This is the most severe stage, it lasts for more than 1 months or 6 weeks after the onset of symptoms like inflammation and pain.
| How would you diagnose a golfer's elbow? List and explain the clinical investigation or assessment tests for it. |
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Golfer Elbow diagnosis involves lots of procedures and some of them includes the following.
- Patient History
The patient would be asked when he started noticing this pain and for how long. He would also be asked the part of the elbow his feeling the pain. He would also be asked if he has been engaging in activities like playing Golf that can
Lcause repetitive use on the arm and trigger this Medical Condition. He would also be asked if he had any previous Injury or Trauma that can trigger this Medical Condition.
- Physical examination
This involves assessing the patient's Elbow to find out if there is any Tendon rupture, muscle damage or arthritis.
- Imaging Tests
Imaging Tests like Ultrasounds, MRI scan and X-ray can also be used to access any rupture tendon, arthritis or muscle damage. The explanation is as follows.
- Ultrasound
It involves using high frequency sound waves to to visualize and create pictures of the tendon in the elbow to know if there is any wear and tear, Arthritis, inflammation or irregularities.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
This test uses strong magnetic field and radio waves to show detailed images of the soft tissues in the elbow.
- X-ray
This test is used to rule out other conditions such as such as arthritis or a fracture that can cause elbow pain.
Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conductions studies (NCS) can also be performed to determine the extent of nerve damage within and muscle strength.
| Special Test |
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- Medial Epicondyle Test
To perform this test, the patient stays in a sitting position, and then flexed the elbow at 90 degree with his wrist extended, then pressure is applied on the medial epicondyle and if there is pain or tenderness then, the test is positive.
- Cozen's Test
To perform this test, the patient stays in a sitting position, and then his elbow is flexed at 90 degree with his wrist extended with resistance, if pain or tenderness is felt, then the test is positive.
- Valgus Stress Test
To perform this test, the patient stays in a sitting position, the elbow supported. The Therapist tries to push the elbow outward and if the patient feels pain on the medial epicondyle, then the test is positive.
| Try to practice at least 3 exercises that you have learned from the lesson. Share images, gifs or videos while practicing preferably gifs or videos. |
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Before performing this exercises, I first of all applied a soft tissue mobilization using a soft tower moisturized with warm water to massage my elbow region inorder to relax my elbow Tendon and muscle and to avoid pain.
- Ball Squeezing
This is an important exercise for wrist and forearm muscles. Ball squeezing, helps to build wrist and forearm muscles strength. It also helps to enhance finer motor activities like eating and picking up things.
- Wrist Flexors Stretch
Performing Wrist Flexors Stretches helps to improve the length of shortened muscles for pain compensation. It also helps to improve mobility and flexibility. While performing this exercise, I held on each stretch position for 10 seconds.
- Wrist Isometric Exercises
This exercise helps to strengthen muscles in the forearm and elbow. To perform this, we first stretch out the affected hand and then place the unaffected hand on the other and then resist upward movement. While performing this exercise, you also hold the position and also try to resist according to your muscle strength. You have to perform than by placing your hand on a table for stabilization. I performed this exercise in two different directions.
| Share your review after performing these exercises either on yourself, a healthy individual or a patient. |
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So I'm healthy, I don't have any health conditions but after performing the I felt my elbow area stretched and relaxed. Above all, I liked how I felt after performing the exercise.
Thanks for reading my post, I invite @wuddi, @missyleo and @evestim to participate in this contest.
Cc:
Thank you for understanding the lesson and sharing your assignment; I hope that you will enjoy this week's lesson and try to implement it in your life if you see any such case.
Observations
Task 1 (3/3)
You have shared a great knowledge about golfer's elbow, its symptoms, causes, types and it's stages. I appreciate your effort.
Task 2 (3/3)
In the second question, you tell us about how you have to assess a patient by doing physical examination, history taking, and investigations. That's good you add special tests and also explanation of both special tests and investigations. Excellent.
Task 3 (3.9/4)
You try the ball squeezing, wrist isometrics, and wrist flexors stretch. You did the ball squeezing, wrist isometrics, and wrist flexors stretch correctly. But it would be better to choose a soft ball for squeezing to gain elbow & hand strength. Always remember to apply heat pack in chronic condition and ice pack in acute condition before performing exercises to relax the muscles and reduce stiffness. I appreciate your efforts.
Overall you made a great attempt to answer all the questions. I appreciate your efforts. But next time try to avoid the above written suggestions. Keep learning and try to implement your knowledge to the people suffering from golfer's elbow or any type of elbow issue. Thank you.
My Twitter link
https://x.com/ezeobi_gab99917/status/1880030864014524907?t=UNlIZKY62skhUtgAspxO5Q&s=19