Preventing Nursemaid’s Elbow
Posted by: The Little Gym of the Triangle on: September 3, 2010
- In: Exercize | Healthy Kids | Injury | Motor Skill Development | Movement | Nursemaid's Elbow | Parenting Tips | Safety
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Nursemaid’s elbow is a common musculo-skeletal injury in young children usually under the age of 4 years old that can be caused by a sudden pulling or jerk on the hand or forearm. According to Dr. Jason C. Suter with Chiropractic Partners in Durham, this can happen when a child is swung around by the arms or even pulled along forcibly (like that oh so fun shopping trip when they just don’t want to go where we need them to go!) It can even happen at The Little Gym, most commonly when a child falls off the beam and is caught by the hand. This is why we stress the importance of spotting children just above the elbow or in the hips rather than holding their hand when they are walking on the beam. (The added benefit of this form of spotting is that it allows the child to feel more of a sense of independence and pride on the beam.)Signs and Treatment of Nursemaid’s Elbow: If your son or daughter has a sudden onset of pain at the elbow following a jerk of the arm or other similar event, and he or she holds their arm at their side, they might have this condition. The injury can usually be reduced or repaired by your child’s chiropractor or physician with ease and often without the need for x-rays. Bracing and immobilization is usually not required if this is the first occurrence of this condition. If you suspect Nursemaid’s Elbow, it is a good idea to get it checked out.
(Dr. Jason Suter with Chiropractic Partners is the source for the information in this article. Thank you, Dr. Suter!)
The Little Gym of the Triangle
