Save Your Arms: Injuries When You Extend Your Arms to Brace Your Fall

Hyperextended Arms and Elbow Dislocations This Winter

The increasing cold and icy weather conditions this winter season may cause an increase in common orthopaedic injuries. Slipping and falling on ice or snow can occur quite often and may lead to many different types of injuries. Injuries can range from muscle sprains to broken bones.

It is a natural instinct to extend your arms to brace your fall to protect your head and face from traumatic injury. While protecting your head is important, using your arms to brace your fall can lead to injuries like a hyperextended elbow, elbow dislocation, or even a fracture. It is important for your wellbeing to be able to recognize if you have any of these injuries and how to prevent them.

Hyperextended Elbow

The definition of a hyperextended elbow is when your elbow is extended beyond its normal range. A hyperextended elbow can cause problems with the ligaments and tendons surrounding the elbow and can ultimately lead to a dislocation. It is important with any of these injuries to seek out a medical professional so they can correctly assess the injury.

Some symptoms of a hyperextended elbow are:

• Intense pain when the elbow is moved

• Pain if the elbow is touched

• Swelling around the elbow

• Stiffness of the elbow joint

• Muscle spasms when trying to straighten your arm

These may be symptoms that overlap with other injuries, so see a doctor to correctly diagnose your hyperextended elbow healing time.

Elbow Dislocations

A more severe type of elbow injury that may occur when you extend your arms to brace your fall is an elbow dislocation. The elbow is a hinge joint. When your elbow becomes dislocated due to a fall on an outstretched arm, the force causes the upper arm bone to become misaligned from the lower arm bone at the elbow.

A dislocation can either be simple or complex. A simple dislocation does not cause any break/fracture to the surrounding bones, whereas a complex one does. A dislocation at times can interfere with surrounding blood vessels which can cut off the blood supply to the rest of the arm.

With any dislocation it is often is very painful and obvious. Usually, the arm looks deformed and the angle of the elbow is odd. Milder dislocations may be harder to detect.

Preventing Injuries Where You Extend Your Arms to Brace Your Fall

During the winter season, it is impossible to avoid icy and snowy conditions completely.

However, you can take some preventative measures into account to reduce your risk of injury:

• Clear off snow and ice immediately after a weather event.

• If possible, leave your car in a garage or under some sort of structure during the winter season. This reduces your risk of falling when trying to get into your car.

• Make sure you wear the proper foot gear. Using boots with traction on the bottom can help when the conditions become icy.

• Give yourself some extra time. This may be the hardest recommendation to follow. We all get busy and caught up in our routines, but allowing a few extra minutes to get to your appointments, work, etc. can really help minimize your risk of injury. Taking your time and not rushing in parking lots or in your driveway can really help!

Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is a leader in specialized orthopaedic medicine in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If you are suffering from an injury from extending your arms to break your fall then don’t wait to get expert treatment from Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Please visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.