Pain or Limitation of Elbow Movements

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

Pain or limitation of elbow movements are common problems that can affect people of all ages.

These symptoms can be caused by a variety of conditions, ranging from acute injuries to chronic diseases.

Accurate identification of the underlying cause is essential to provide appropriate treatment and prevent complications. A proper diagnostic approach includes clinical evaluation and the use of complementary tests.

Condition	Symptoms and Clinical Signs	Suspected Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Epicondylitis	Pain in the lateral or medial epicondyle, pain during gripping or wrist extension	History of repetitive movements or overuse of the elbow	Clinical evaluation, specific pain provocation tests (Cozen’s test)
Osteoarthritis	Chronic pain, stiffness, swelling, crepitus with elbow movement	History of progressive pain, especially in older individuals	X-rays showing joint space narrowing and osteophytes
Trauma	Acute pain, swelling, deformity, inability to move the elbow	History of injury or direct impact to the elbow	X-ray to detect fractures, ultrasound or MRI to assess soft tissue damage
Soft Tissue Injury	Pain, swelling, bruising, limited movement depending on the severity of the injury	History of overexertion or trauma	Ultrasound or MRI to evaluate tendons, ligaments, and bursae