How to Avoid a Sticky Elbow—Rehabilitation Following Elbow Trauma

Elbow trauma rehabilitation is centered on preventing stiffness through early, protected movement. The teaching covers three common injuries: simple elbow dislocation, radial head fractures, and distal biceps tears. It explains how to recognize each problem through injury mechanism, bruising patterns, loss of extension, palpation, and signs of instability, while also highlighting when associated injuries may be missed. A major theme is that elbows do poorly with prolonged immobilization. Early mobilization, usually within a defined safe zone, is presented as the preferred approach after both conservative treatment and surgery. The summary of practice includes collar-and-cuff use, gradual restoration of extension, active forearm rotation, gripping, and overhead exercises to improve motion while protecting healing tissues. Distal biceps repair is discussed in terms of diagnosis, indications for surgery, common complications, and the need for prompt referral. The rehabilitation approach also addresses pain, fear of movement, proprioception, and sensory retraining techniques such as mirror therapy and laterality tasks. Learners can expect practical guidance on progressing from early motion to strengthening, impact training, and return-to-sport testing, with emphasis on team communication and patient reassurance.