| Medical Dictionary |
A Medical Dictionary of Medical Terminology
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Your elbow joint is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and fluid. Muscles and tendons help the elbow joint move. When any of these structures is hurt or diseased, you have elbow problems.
Many things can make your elbow hurt. A common cause is tendinitis, an inflammation or injury to the tendons that attach muscle to bone. Tendinitis of the elbow is a sports injury, often from playing tennis or golf. You may also get tendinitis from overuse of the elbow.
Other causes of elbow pain include sprains and strains, fractures (broken bones), dislocations, bursitis, and arthritis. Treatment depends on the cause.
Exercising is good for you, but sometimes you can injure yourself when you play sports or exercise. Accidents, poor training practices, or improper gear can cause them. Some people get hurt because they are not in shape. Not warming up or stretching enough can also lead to injuries.
The most common sports injuries are:
If you get hurt, stop playing. Continuing to play or exercise can cause more harm. Treatment often begins with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) method to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed healing. Other possible treatments include pain relievers, keeping the injured area from moving, rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Tendons are flexible bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. They help your muscles move your bones. Tendinitis is the severe swelling of a tendon.
Tendinitis usually happens after repeated injury to an area such as the wrist or ankle. It causes pain and soreness around a joint. Some common forms of tendinitis are named after the sports that increase their risk. They include tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, pitcher's shoulder, swimmer's shoulder, and jumper's knee.
Doctors diagnose tendinitis with your medical history, a physical exam, and imaging tests. The first step in treatment is to reduce pain and swelling. Rest, wrapping or elevating the affected area, and medicines can help. Ice is helpful for recent, severe injuries. Other treatments include ultrasound, physical therapy, steroid injections, and surgery.
A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts, such as muscles, tendons, or skin. Bursitis occurs when a bursa becomes inflamed. People get bursitis by overusing a joint. It can also be caused by an injury. It usually occurs at the knee or elbow. Kneeling or leaning your elbows on a hard surface for a long time can make bursitis start. Doing the same kinds of movements every day or putting stress on joints increases your risk.
Symptoms of bursitis include pain and swelling. Your doctor will diagnose bursitis with a physical exam and tests such as x-rays and MRIs. He or she may also take fluid from the swollen area to be sure the problem isn't an infection.
Treatment of bursitis includes rest, pain medicines, or ice. If there is no improvement, your doctor may inject a drug into the area around the swollen bursa. If the joint still does not improve after 6 to 12 months, you may need surgery to repair damage and relieve pressure on the bursa.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Of the 206 bones in your body, three of them are in your arm: the humerus, radius, and ulna. Your arms are also made up of muscles, joints, tendons, and other connective tissue. Injuries to any of these parts of the arm can occur during sports, a fall, or an accident.
Types of arm injuries include :
You may also have problems or injure specific parts of your arm, such as your hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder.
Dislocations are joint injuries that force the ends of your bones out of position. The cause is often a fall or a blow, sometimes from playing a contact sport. You can dislocate your ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, elbows and jaw. You can also dislocate your finger and toe joints. Dislocated joints often are swollen, very painful and visibly out of place. You may not be able to move it.
A dislocated joint is an emergency. If you have one, seek medical attention. Treatment depends on which joint you dislocate and the severity of the injury. It might include manipulations to reposition your bones, medicine, a splint or sling, and rehabilitation. When properly repositioned, a joint will usually function and move normally again in a few weeks. Once you dislocate a shoulder or kneecap, you are more likely to dislocate it again. Wearing protective gear during sports may help prevent dislocations.
If you feel pain and stiffness in your body or have trouble moving around, you might have arthritis. Any disorder that affects the joints is often called arthritis. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee.
Most types of arthritis can cause joint pain and inflammation (swelling). Over time, a swollen joint can become severely damaged. Some kinds of arthritis can also cause problems in your organs, such as your eyes or skin. Treatment will depend on the type of arthritis you have.
What are the types of arthritis?Common types of arthritis include:
Pain, redness, warmth, and joint inflammation are common arthritis symptoms. You may not be able to move your joint as well as it should. Other symptoms could include fever, weight loss, breathing difficulties, or a rash.
Symptoms often get worse as you age. Some symptoms of arthritis may be signs of other illnesses.
Who is more likely to get arthritis?A few things that might increase your chance of getting arthritis include:
Other factors that might increase your risk of getting arthritis include having a previous joint injury, obesity, or lupus.
How is arthritis diagnosed?To find out if you have arthritis, your health care provider may:
Your provider may refer you to a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in arthritis care) for tests, diagnosis, and care.
What are the treatments for arthritis?Treatment depends on the type of arthritis you have. It may include medicine or surgery. Your provider will work with you to improve your symptoms and quality of life.
A few ways to help manage your symptoms include:
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is used when a person's heart has stopped beating, called cardiac arrest, or when a person has stopped breathing. CPR is an emergency technique that keeps blood and oxygen moving through the body until emergency medical help arrives.
When someone's heart stops or they stop breathing, every second matters. Without treatment, permanent brain damage can happen quickly. If you know how to perform CPR, you could save a life.
How is CPR done?The steps below give you a general overview of CPR. Reading about CPR is not the same as hands-on training. Taking an accredited course is the best way to be prepared in an emergency.
Before starting CPR, check the person. Tap their shoulder and shout, "Are you okay?" Look to see if they are breathing normally. Gasping or gurgling is not normal breathing. If they do not respond and are not breathing normally, start the steps below right away.
Call 911. If someone else is nearby, send them to call while you start CPR.
Send someone to find an AED. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device that can shock the heart back into a normal rhythm. It gives you step-by-step voice instructions. AEDs are especially useful in sudden cardiac arrest, when the heart stops unexpectedly due to an electrical problem. AEDs are available in many public places.
Position the person. Make sure that the person is lying on their back. Start CPR right away. Do not wait to move them to a different surface.
Start chest compressions:
If you haven't had any CPR training, you can do hands-only CPR for a teen or adult whose heart has stopped beating. Hands-only CPR uses chest compressions only, with no breaths, to keep blood circulating. Keep pushing until help arrives or the person starts breathing normally.
If you've had CPR training, you can give breaths along with chest compressions. After every 30 compressions:
Use the AED as soon as it is available. Turn the AED on and follow the voice instructions. It will tell you when to stop compressions and when to deliver a shock. Continue CPR right after.
Children need both chest compressions and breaths. Hands-only CPR alone is not recommended for children. Push down about one-third the depth of the child's chest. If an AED has child pads, use them. If not, adult pads may be used.
The steps above are an overview only. To be truly prepared, take an accredited CPR course and refresh your training every two years. Many community organizations, hospitals, the American Heart Association, and the American Red Cross offer classes.
Eczema is a term for several different types of skin swelling. Eczema is also called dermatitis. Most types cause dry, itchy skin and rashes on the face, inside the elbows and behind the knees, and on the hands and feet. Scratching the skin can cause it to turn red, and to swell and itch even more.
Eczema is not contagious. The cause of eczema is unknown. It is likely caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Eczema may get better or worse over time, but it is often a long-lasting disease. People who have it may also develop hay fever and asthma.
The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It is most common in babies and children, but adults can have it too. As children who have atopic dermatitis grow older, this problem may get better or go away. But sometimes the skin may stay dry and get irritated easily.
Treatments may include medicines, skin creams, light therapy, and good skin care. You can prevent some types of eczema by avoiding:
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Germs are microorganisms. This means that they can be seen only through a microscope. They can be found everywhere - in the air, soil, and water. There are also germs on your skin and in your body. Many germs live in and on our bodies without causing harm. Some even help us to stay healthy. But some germs can make you sick. Infectious diseases are diseases that are caused by germs.
The main types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
How do germs spread?There are different ways that germs can spread, including:
You can help protect yourself and others from germs: