Hi all, I'm gonna seek professional help with this one, but I just thought that maybe somebody here has experienced something similar or has expertise on this: During training yesterday I experienced pretty substantial pains in my right elbow (my racquet arm). Or, to be more precise, ON the "lump" of the elbow itself. I have ruled out tennis elbow for the following reasons: 1) I haven't had any problems before. This suggests a more acute injury. 2) Symptoms are not typical for tennis elbow. For instance, I can freely move my wrist without experiencing pains in the elbow. The pain occurs when I extend or contract the elbow, with resistance. For instance, push-ups are just impossible. As to badminton, I can play but it is hurts to perform good clears and full smashes, as those involve some elbow movement. I can do "wrist shots", such as flicks and drives without too much pain though. My theory is that it is due to an acute "over-extension" (don't know how else to describe it) of the elbow. Last time I played I did a really forceful smash but I slipped on the floor and got thrown off in the stroke phase. I ended up "throwing" my arm out really hard, and I suspect the elbow joint took quite a hit... (This is also the reason why you should NEVER smash with a fully extended arm. Not only does it reduce power, it can also damage your elbow joint.) Has anybody experienced something like this? If so, how did you treat it?
Never had this problem myself. Maybe because my coach would lecture me whenever I did a shot that looked like it could hurt my elbow. My guess is your guess, turning it too far. You most likely threw it out in that shot.
Traumatic bursitis Got a little consultation from a relative, and he suggested a possible diagnosis: traumatic bursitis. Sounds terrible, but it's not that bad. Treatment involves ice packs and rest though... >(
Re: Traumatic bursitis i sometimes have the same problem too.... but it is fine nowadays... i think it's becoz i have improved in my techniques... now i don't use much arm strength.. only the wrist... for treatment, i basically leave it as it is... Speedy recovery for you!
Re: Traumatic bursitis Did you stop playing? For how long? Or did you just stop doing the painful strokes?
Re: Traumatic bursitis Heh i think i have the same problem.. i think i found why my "arm - elbow" hurts me.. i dont have the good technique.. i extend my arm too much to hit the shuttlecock.. and then i must use "hot cream" to feel better.. beav
Re: Traumatic bursitis err... basically i just leave it for abt a week or less... about the shots, try not to use too many arm to smash/lob.... snap your wrist instead! ever since i streghten my wrist, i got no more elbow pains...
Did you fall on the elbow at all? That lumpy bit on the end is part of the bone from the forearm (called "olecranon"). Any other problems like deviation of your forearm (sounds unlikely). I'm just wondering if you may have fractured the bone as an alternative diagnosis (less possible I think). Or perhaps it's come out of the joint (again less likely). You had better get it examined sooner if the pain is really bad. The physician might suggest an X-ray once he's had a chance to examine the joint. Your shoulder OK?
Student's elbow! My shoulder is fine, my wrists are fine. I didn't fall or anything. In fact I think it's actually a case of "student's elbow"! I've had some very minor problems before but never from badminton. Student's elbow is a form of bursitis but is caused by long-time rubbing of the elbow against something -- such as a desk or table (hence the name). I think that over-extension the other day was just what made it acute. And although it still hurts, it's much better today. I think I'm even going to try to play lightly tonight. If it hurts much I'll give it a week's rest. Thanks all for the input!
Re: Student's elbow! Maybe you should consider a visit to a doctor anyway. I don't think Cheung is right with bone but this kind of things shouldn't be left as they are. There might be nerve or vessel problems. I wish I'm wrong. I'd advise a week of rest - better do not play.
Re: Student's elbow! I'll see how it develops. If I'm not back to normal next week then I'll see a specialist. But I was better this morning than yesterday, and I'm better now than this morning so I'm not really worried. There elbow's not at all swollen or bruised so I think we can safely rule out a fracture. And if it's indeed a case of bursitis as I suspect, then it's gotta be mild since the bursa would be really swollen otherwise.
Re: Student's elbow! It's unlikely to be a nerve since the rest of the arm is not affected. There's no muscle under the skin at the point Mag described. A Doctor should consider a primary diagnosis and also other possible diagnoses as a matter of good medical practice hence the clarification of any trauma to the elbow of which was slightly unclear in the original description. Anyway, enough rambling! Good to know it's getting better for a true badminton fanatic.
When I started playing badminton I started with lifting some weights too because I wanted to be in better shape. After a few months of weight lifting I started feeling some pain in my elbow. After tournaments (5 or 6 matches) my elbow would hurt so bad that the next day on the training my elbow would hurt so bad that I couldn't play a shot on the net, it would even hurt just when I move my hand. But I was an arm player then, not wrist. But, from time to time, my technique got better, and my wrists and forearms became stronger. Later on, it wouldn't hurt me so much after the tournaments, and now it doesn't hurt any more. Here's my advice, do as I did: For now, rest your elbow for about two weeks, then start with your badminton trainings, but don't do any smashes for now. Then start getting your wrists stronger, take a short weightlifting bar (not over 20lbs) put both of your arms on a chair so that your wrists just cross over the edge. Now roll the bar! Work on your smash technique, do shadow smash, but not too hard so that you don't over-extend your elbow again! After doing this for about month and a half, you should feel some progress. Cos' it helped me.
Oh, one more thing! If you're an arm-player you shouldn't use a light-head racket. Play with a heavier-head racket (90-94g).