Flexor-Pronator Strain
A flexor-pronator strain of the elbow is a common source of pain in the elbows of pitchers. The pain is
The flexor-pronator muscle are a source of medial elbow pain in throwing athletes. Note the location of the flexor-pronator origin (orange arrow).
A flexor-pronator strain can either result from an acute event or can develop as a result of overuse. A pitcher who has an acute flexor-pronator strain will remember a specific throw where he felt sharp pain on the medial side of the elbow. His pain will usually be located just past the bony prominence on the inside of the elbow. He often will have pain flexing the wrist or pronating the forearm.
Evaluation by a sports medicine physician is important soon after the injury to try to determine the correct diagnosis quickly. X-rays are usually normal with this injury. In high-level athletes an MRI is often ordered to ensure that the pain is not coming from an underlying injury to the ulnar collateral ligament, also known as the Tommy John injury. Most of the time, a flexor-pronator strain is treated with rest from pitching for several weeks to give the tendons time to heal. Ice and physical therapy can also be helpful to decrease the athlete’s symptoms. As the pain improves, the pitcher will be started on a long toss program prior to returning to full pitching.
If you have specific questions about flexor-pronator strains, please Ask Dr. Geier directly or Schedule an Appointment.
Other Elbow InjuriesDistal Biceps Tendon Rupture
Flexor-Pronator Strain
Lateral Epicondylitis (“Tennis Elbow”)
Little Leaguer’s Elbow
Medial Epicondylitis (“golfer’s elbow”)
Olecranon Bursitis
Olecranon Stress Fracture
Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Capitellum
Triceps Tendinitis
Triceps Tendon Rupture
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries (“Tommy John Surgery”)
Ulnar Neuritis (Ulnar Nerve Compression)
Valgus Extension Overload
C. David Geier Jr., M.D.
