What is Elbow Stiffness?
Elbow stiffness is a condition characterized by a restricted range of motion of the elbow causing difficulty bending, straightening, or rotating your arm. Elbow stiffness may be caused due to injury, disease, or deformity.
Causes of Elbow Stiffness
Elbow stiffness may be associated with:
- Elbow injury causing a sprain, fracture, or dislocation
- Previous surgery to the joint
- Heterotopic ossification (excess bone formation in the joint after injury or surgery)
- Infection
- Inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Congenital problems
Symptoms of Elbow Stiffness
The symptoms include a limited range of elbow movement, and depending on the underlying cause, elbow pain. The pain associated with the condition may vary from person to person.
Diagnosis of Elbow Stiffness
Your doctor will check your medical history and perform a physical examination to form the preliminary diagnosis. Imaging techniques such as X-rays or a CT scan may be ordered to obtain a detailed view of the elbow to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions.