Sprains and Strains—Arm Injuries and Disorders

Of the 206 bones in your body, three of them are in your arm: the humerus, radius, and ulna. Your arms are also made up of muscles, joints, tendons, and other connective tissue. Injuries to any of these parts of the arm can occur during sports, a fall, or an accident.

Types of arm injuries include

• Tendinitis and bursitis
• Sprains
• Dislocations
• Broken bones
• Nerve problems
• Osteoarthritis

You may also have problems or injure specific parts of your arm, such as your hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder.

• Arm CT scan (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Brachial plexopathy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Radial head fracture – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Radial nerve dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia)

A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones at a joint. Falling, twisting, or getting hit can all cause a sprain. Ankle and wrist sprains are common. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and being unable to move your joint. You might feel a pop or tear when the injury happens.

A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. Twisting or pulling these tissues can cause a strain. Strains can happen suddenly or develop over time. Back and hamstring muscle strains are common. Many people get strains playing sports. Symptoms include pain, muscle spasms, swelling, and trouble moving the muscle.

At first, treatment of both sprains and strains usually involves resting the injured area, icing it, wearing a bandage or device that compresses the area, and medicines. Later treatment might include exercise and physical therapy.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

• Ankle sprain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Elbow sprain — aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Foot sprain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hamstring strain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hip flexor strain — aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Sprains (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Strains (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tendon repair (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Wrist sprain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)