Indicators Of Elbow Bursitis
Even if they're protected with padding, your elbows are susceptible to various types of injuries during all sorts of team sports. A hard impact on this part of your body has not only the potential to break bones but also cause other issues. Elbow bursitis is a relatively common elbow injury for athletes, and can often occur as a result of hard contact. A football player may suffer this injury when an opponent drives their helmet or shoulder into their elbow, for example. If you've noticed one or more indicators that suggest you have elbow bursitis, visit a sports medicine clinic.
Swelling
Swelling is a common indicator of all sorts of elbow issues. If you have bursitis, you'll commonly notice swelling at the rear of the elbow. The amount of swelling you experience will vary according to the severity of the injury. In the event of an advanced case of elbow bursitis, you can expect to see that the rear of your elbow has a bulbous appearance that is impossible to ignore. More minor cases of bursitis will result in low to moderate swelling that you may not immediately notice.
Loss Of Range Of Motion
Some cases of elbow bursitis can affect your range of motion in this part of your body. As an athlete, you might become aware of the injury when you're unable to bend your elbow in a specific way, whether it's while you try to shoot a basketball, attempt to perform a gymnastics maneuver, or something else. The more serious your elbow bursitis, the less range of motion you'll have. If you attempt to bend your elbow to a sharp degree, it's common to notice a significant amount of pain.
Discomfort
Even if you aren't bending your elbow, you'll likely have some discomfort that may help to alert you to this sports injury. Swelling and discomfort often go hand in hand with all sorts of injuries, and the more swollen your elbow, the more uncomfortable it will be. You may be aware of some level of discomfort even when your arm hangs at your side, but the discomfort will increase as a result of any type of contact to the elbow.
For example, if you attempt to continue competing in your sport and suffer another blow to the elbow, you'll experience a significant amount of discomfort. A medical professional at your local sports medicine clinic can treat your elbow bursitis in several ways, helping you to get back in action after a brief recovery period.