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Arm Injuries

Overview

Minor arm injuries are common. Symptoms often are caused by everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an 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 falling down. The chance of having an injury is higher in contact sports, such as wrestling, football, or soccer. It's also higher in 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. It needs to be checked by a doctor.

Older adults have a greater chance for injuries and broken bones. That's because they lose muscle mass and bone strength (osteoporosis) as they age. Older adults also have more problems with vision and balance. This makes them more likely to have a fall or injury.

Most minor injuries will heal on their own, and home treatment is usually all that's needed.

Acute injuries

Acute injuries come on suddenly. They may be caused by a direct blow, a penetrating injury, or a fall. Or they may occur when you twist, jerk, jam, or bend a limb abnormally. Pain may be sudden and severe. Bruising and swelling may start soon after the injury. Acute injuries usually need prompt medical care. They include:

  • Bruises (contusions). They occur when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture, often from a twist, bump, or fall. Blood leaks into tissues under the skin. It causes a black-and-blue colour that often turns purple, red, yellow, and green as the bruise heals.
  • Injuries to the tough, ropy fibres (ligaments) that connect bone to bone and help stabilize joints (sprains).
  • Injuries to the tough, ropy fibres that connect muscle to bone (tendons).
  • Pulled muscles (strains).
  • Muscle ruptures, such as a biceps or triceps rupture.
  • Broken bones (fractures). A break may occur when a bone is twisted, struck directly, or used to brace against a fall.
  • Pulling or pushing bones out of their normal position among the other bones that make up a joint (dislocations).

Overuse injuries

Overuse injuries occur when stress is placed on a joint or other tissue. This often happens when you overdo or repeat an 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. This is called bursitis.
  • Pain and swelling of the tough, ropy fibres that connect muscles to bones (tendinitis).
  • Pain and swelling from tiny tears (microtears) in the connective tissue in or around the tendon (tendinosis). Other symptoms of this type of tendon injury include loss of strength or movement in the arm.
  • Hairline cracks in bones of the arm (stress fractures).
  • Pressure on nerves in the arm, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Treatment

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

  • The location and type of injury, and how bad it is.
  • When the injury occurred.
  • Your age, health condition, and activities (such as work, sports, or hobbies).
Information about Arm Injuries

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

Information about Arm Injuries

Current as of: July 17, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.