Everything We Need To Learn About Our Elbow - Providing Protection For It With Elbow Guards
The human anatomy consists of a variety of parts that allow one to move freely. Among these parts are our upper limbs or upper extremities which house our hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, arms and shoulders. Among these parts of our upper limbs, on the other hand, the part that allows for range and mobility in the arms is the elbow. Hence, the use of elbow guards to provide protection to this part when participating in risky activities is always a must.
Our arms consist of three long bones. These are the humerus which is the bone of the upper arm, the ulna or the inner bone of the forearm, and the radius which is the outer bone of the forearm. The bones meet in the middle portion of the arm and their juncture is called the elbow. These bones are connected by three major ligaments-the ulnar collateral ligament, the radial collateral ligament, and the annular ligament. The elbow hinge is flexed and extended by the biceps and triceps muscles, respectively.
As was aforementioned, it is important to protect our elbows by using elbow guards especially when participating in extremely risky activities. This is deemed important as our elbows are one of the most often used parts in performing day-to-day activities. Flexion and extension are the two types of movements that are made possible by our elbows. Flexion is the position when the arm is bent while extension occurs when the arm is straight. Another position of the elbow is the "carrying angle" which occurs when the arm is extended with the palm facing forward. This position of the said joint is important in the preventing the arm from hitting the side of your body as you walk.
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.
With this number of functions that the elbow performs in our day-to-day activities, it is also often put under stress. As such, protecting them through the use of safety gears such as elbow guards is important. Among the number of elbow injuries that are commonly incurred are dislocation and tendonitis. Dislocation often occurs after falling on the arm while the elbow is fully extended or outstretched. Tendonitis, on the other hand, is an elbow injury that involves either the tendon of the common flexor origin which causes golfer's elbow or the common extensor origin which results to tennis' elbow. Sprains, strains, fractures, bursitis, and arthritis are other common causes of elbow 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.
Our arms consist of three long bones. These are the humerus which is the bone of the upper arm, the ulna or the inner bone of the forearm, and the radius which is the outer bone of the forearm. The bones meet in the middle portion of the arm and their juncture is called the elbow. These bones are connected by three major ligaments-the ulnar collateral ligament, the radial collateral ligament, and the annular ligament. The elbow hinge is flexed and extended by the biceps and triceps muscles, respectively.
As was aforementioned, it is important to protect our elbows by using elbow guards especially when participating in extremely risky activities. This is deemed important as our elbows are one of the most often used parts in performing day-to-day activities. Flexion and extension are the two types of movements that are made possible by our elbows. Flexion is the position when the arm is bent while extension occurs when the arm is straight. Another position of the elbow is the "carrying angle" which occurs when the arm is extended with the palm facing forward. This position of the said joint is important in the preventing the arm from hitting the side of your body as you walk.
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.
With this number of functions that the elbow performs in our day-to-day activities, it is also often put under stress. As such, protecting them through the use of safety gears such as elbow guards is important. Among the number of elbow injuries that are commonly incurred are dislocation and tendonitis. Dislocation often occurs after falling on the arm while the elbow is fully extended or outstretched. Tendonitis, on the other hand, is an elbow injury that involves either the tendon of the common flexor origin which causes golfer's elbow or the common extensor origin which results to tennis' elbow. Sprains, strains, fractures, bursitis, and arthritis are other common causes of elbow 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.