Following injury, your elbow may be swollen, bruised and painful. In order to help the natural healing process, follow the advice below.
The exercises below can be repeated hourly though the day. Regaining full extension (straightening) of the elbow is important. Work up to this gradually, doing the exercises little and often will help.
As each day goes by, you should be able to move the arm more freely and you can gradually discard your sling. As well as exercising your elbow, check that your neck, shoulder, wrist and hand are not stiff.
As soon as possible, resume light activities, but in the first weeks you should avoid carrying heavy objects, or doing anything that forces the elbow into a straight position. As the arm feels more comfortable, gradually build up to heavier activities.
For those returning to sport, swimming is good exercise. However, do not return to racquet or contact sports until your elbow is free of pain, supple and strong
This leaflet gives general advice only. Depending on how severely your elbow is injured, it may take between 6 - 8 weeks for you to regain full movement. Full elbow straightening is often slower to return than elbow bending and in some cases may always remain restricted.
© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published April 2024. Review due April 2027. NBT002260.
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Southmead Hospital
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Westbury-on-Trym
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