Impairements and Physics Aids
Our elbow is a hinge joint, which means that it can move in only one
plane – like a hinge on a door. A joint is where 2 bones meet. [1] Our
elbow is a hinge joint made up of the humerus which is the bone of the
upper arm, the ulna which is the bone that runs from the your elbow to
the tip of your pinky finger at the side of your wrist, and the radius
which is the lower arm at the other side of the ulna.[2]
The elbow joint can be permanently damaged through frequent sports
injuries such as bad sprains and fractures and through weakening of
the joint caused by diseases such as osteoarthritis, which occurs
when; the cartilage at the end of the bone becomes worn away. The
cartilage acted as a shock absorber, without it there will be more
friction and movement will be very painful. And also rheumatoid
arthritis which is when the smaller joints become inflamed, tissue
grows across the joint and makes movement very difficult, over time
the joint can become permanently fused ands o no movement will be
possible. The joint can also be damaged by excessive pressure on the
surface of the joint, these damages to the joint might also destroy
the cartilage, and fractured pieces of cartilage do not normally grow
back. When the weakening of the elbow joint is so severe that the
elbow is of very little use and is causing too much pain, the elbow
joint might be replaced with an artificial one to regain back its
power and stop the pain.[3]
During these surgical replacements of the elbow joint, the surgeon
removes the damaged bone and cartilage. These removed structures are
then replaced by an artificial elbow (prostheses), theses prostheses
are designed to be a replica of the original joint and to function
just as the old joint did. They are used to restore mobility and
movement to the elbow and arm. These surgical operations are effective
and are very safe.