Our body consists of a number of parts that must work harmoniously together. If they do so, we will be able to live a healthy life. Among the parts that allow our body to move freely are our upper limbs or upper extremities which include our arms, hands, wrists, forearms, and shoulders. Among these enumerated parts, our elbows are the ones responsible for range of motion and mobility in our arms. As such, the use of elbow guards to ensure their safety when participating in risky activities that involve their use is extremely important.
In medical terms, the elbow is the juncture of the long bones in the middle portion of the arm. It is the part where the humerus-the bone of the upper arm-meets the ulna and the radius, which are the inner and outer bones of the forearm, respectively. The ulnar collateral ligament, the radial collateral ligament, and the annular ligaments are the major ligaments that connect the bones of the elbow. The major muscle that flexes the elbow hinge is the biceps muscle while the triceps are the muscles that extend it.
Our elbows are one of the largest joints in our body. They are also the one used most often to perform day-to-day activities. As such, using elbow guards to ensure their safety is vital in protecting these joints from injuries. Their major function is to allow two types of movements-flexion, which is the position where the arm is bent, and extension where the arm is straight. The "carrying angle" of the elbow which happens when the arm is extended with the palm facing forward prevents the arms from hitting the side of your body as you walk. This angle also influences how objects are held by individuals.
Another important function of our elbows is its allowance for small amount of rotation which is usually noticed during activities such as hand-to-mouth eating. This function is made possible by the unique positioning and interaction of the bones in their juncture. Activities involving the hand such as writing or using a keyboard also makes use of the elbow as a fulcrum. Hence, this joint generally gives the arm much of its versatility in conjunction with the shoulder joint and wrist.
However, with our elbows being the major joint in one of the most active regions of the human body, they can be easily put under stress. Dislocation which usually results from falling on the arm while the elbow is fully extended or outstretched is one of the most common elbow injuries. Tendonitis such as golfer's elbow and tennis elbow is another common type of elbow injury. Golfer's elbow involves the tendon of the common flexor origin which originates at the medial epicondyle of the humerus while the tennis elbow is an equivalent injury except that it involves the common extensor origin. Other causes of elbow pains include sprains, strains, fractures, bursitis and arthritis. With these number of elbow injuries, the use of elbow guards especially while participating in full-contact sports such as wrestling and soccer is vital in protecting the elbows from injuries.
Our elbows are indeed important parts of our body. With the number of functions they perform, it is extremely important that we exercise caution when performing risky activities that involve their use. As such, investing in safety gears such as elbow guards can greatly help in ensuring the aforementioned joint's protection.
In medical terms, the elbow is the juncture of the long bones in the middle portion of the arm. It is the part where the humerus-the bone of the upper arm-meets the ulna and the radius, which are the inner and outer bones of the forearm, respectively. The ulnar collateral ligament, the radial collateral ligament, and the annular ligaments are the major ligaments that connect the bones of the elbow. The major muscle that flexes the elbow hinge is the biceps muscle while the triceps are the muscles that extend it.
Our elbows are one of the largest joints in our body. They are also the one used most often to perform day-to-day activities. As such, using elbow guards to ensure their safety is vital in protecting these joints from injuries. Their major function is to allow two types of movements-flexion, which is the position where the arm is bent, and extension where the arm is straight. The "carrying angle" of the elbow which happens when the arm is extended with the palm facing forward prevents the arms from hitting the side of your body as you walk. This angle also influences how objects are held by individuals.
Another important function of our elbows is its allowance for small amount of rotation which is usually noticed during activities such as hand-to-mouth eating. This function is made possible by the unique positioning and interaction of the bones in their juncture. Activities involving the hand such as writing or using a keyboard also makes use of the elbow as a fulcrum. Hence, this joint generally gives the arm much of its versatility in conjunction with the shoulder joint and wrist.
However, with our elbows being the major joint in one of the most active regions of the human body, they can be easily put under stress. Dislocation which usually results from falling on the arm while the elbow is fully extended or outstretched is one of the most common elbow injuries. Tendonitis such as golfer's elbow and tennis elbow is another common type of elbow injury. Golfer's elbow involves the tendon of the common flexor origin which originates at the medial epicondyle of the humerus while the tennis elbow is an equivalent injury except that it involves the common extensor origin. Other causes of elbow pains include sprains, strains, fractures, bursitis and arthritis. With these number of elbow injuries, the use of elbow guards especially while participating in full-contact sports such as wrestling and soccer is vital in protecting the elbows from injuries.
Our elbows are indeed important parts of our body. With the number of functions they perform, it is extremely important that we exercise caution when performing risky activities that involve their use. As such, investing in safety gears such as elbow guards can greatly help in ensuring the aforementioned joint's protection.
About the Author:
Vanessa John is a female wrestler from Idaho. As her "job" involves full-contact, she always dons her elbow guard (ellenbogenschutz) to protect her elbows from injuries.