Arm Injuries

Minor arm injuries are common. Symptoms often develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse or a sudden injury. Arm injuries are often caused by:

• Sports or hobbies
• Work-related tasks
• Work or projects around the home

Your child may injure an arm during sports or play or from accidental falls. The chance of having an injury is higher in contact sports (such as wrestling, football or soccer) and high-speed sports (such as biking, in-line skating, skiing, snowboarding and skateboarding). Forearms, wrists, hands and fingers are injured most often. An injury to the end of a long bone near a joint may harm the growth plate (physis) and needs to be checked by a doctor.

Older adults have a greater chance for injuries and broken bones because they lose muscle mass and bone strength (osteoporosis) as they age. Older adults also have more problems with vision and balance, which increases their chances of having an accidental injury.

Most minor injuries heal on their own, and home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve symptoms and promote healing.

There are generally two ways to describe an arm injury:

• Sudden (acute) injury
• Overuse injuries

Acute injuries come on suddenly and may be caused by a direct blow, a penetrating injury, a fall or from twisting, jerking, jamming or bending a limb abnormally. Pain may be sudden and severe. Bruising and swelling may develop soon after the injury. Acute injuries usually require prompt medical evaluation and may include:

• Bruises (contusions), which occur when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture, often from a twist, bump, or fall
• Injuries to the tough, ropy fibers (ligaments) that connect bone to bone and help stabilize joints (sprains)
• Injuries to the tough, ropy fibers that connect muscle to bone (tendons)
• Pulled muscles (strains)
• Muscle ruptures, such as a bicep or tricep rupture
• Broken bones (fractures), which may occur when a bone is twisted, struck directly or used to brace against a fall
• Pulling or pushing bones out of their normal relationship to the other bones that make up a joint (dislocations)

Overuse injuries occur when stress is placed on a joint or other tissue, often by overdoing an activity or repeating the same activity. Overuse injuries include:

• Pain and swelling of the sac of fluid that cushions and lubricates the joint area between one bone and another bone, a tendon or the skin (bursitis)
• Pain and swelling of the tough, ropy fibers that connect muscles to bones (tendinitis)
• Pain, swelling or loss of movement or strength in the arm from tiny tears (microtears) in the connective tissue in or around the tendon (tendinosis)
• Hairline cracks in bones of the arm (stress fractures)
• Pressure on nerves in the arm, such as carpal tunnel syndrome

Treatment for an arm injury may include first aid measures (such as using a brace, splint or cast), setting a broken bone or returning a dislocated joint to its normal position, physical therapy, medicines and, in some cases, surgery. Treatment depends on:

• The location, type and severity of the injury
• When the injury occurred
• Age, overall health condition and daily activities performed, such as work, sports or hobbies

Check symptoms to decide if and when to see a doctor.