SELFIE ELBOW
CAUSES
‘Selfie elbow’ the name explains it all.
The new lifestyle has made it conditional for many of us to possess and use smart phones which come with in-built front and back cameras.
Some selfie addicts who like to take innumerable selfies often strain their elbows, as taking a selfie means to move the arm up and bent in a weird position.
Selfie elbow is a new neuro-orthopaedic condition which is a fall-out of increased use of smart phones.
The weight of the phone is not the concern. The repetition combined with the contortion of the elbow, held in unnatural positions while capturing the Selfie shot are actually what pose the problem.
Currently Selfie Elbow more closely mimics Tennis Elbow and Olecranon Bursitis.
Technically known as lateral epicondylitis, Tennis Elbow affects the lateral (outside) portion of the elbow. The same diagnostic tools and treatment for Tennis Elbow are used to treat Selfie Elbow.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of self-elbow are evident as ‘Repetitive Strain Injuries’ or RSI’s which affect your muscles and tendons.
The sprain or strain is slow and gradual.
Pain on the outside of the elbow during activity.
Weakness with grabbing or gripping.
Dull ache while at rest/night
TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS
As your elbow pain reaches alarming levels, a visit to the doctor proves to be beneficial.
The doctor may ask questions regarding your lifestyle and hobbies, esp. of playing games like tennis, ping-pong and others.
The doctor may also enquire about your cellphone habits (texting, messaging, and social media postings).
The doctor may also ask you about your habit to take selfies. The doctor looks for symptoms of tendinitis or ache in the elbow.
While you take selfies, you hold the mobile phone for several minutes in strenuous posture, which can cause trauma to your muscles and tendons in the elbow.
TREATMENT AND MEDICATION
You can start treating your ‘selfie elbow’ with ice, exercise and rest.
The shoulder and wrist rolls help in relaxing the elbow and wrist muscles.
A few changes in selfie taking may also help viz. shifting the mobile device from one hand to another frequently, using a selfie stick, while taking selfies giving long gaps between each selfie session and limiting you to fewer selfies at any given point of time.
Asking your friend to click your photos, an old method of taking photos has indeed no parallel at all.
Other conservative treatment may include:
Physical therapy to stretch and build strength.
Behavior modification – a change in posture/position while taking Selfies.
An elbow brace to be worn during the daytime and a wrist brace at night – holding both in anatomically comfortable positions.
Steroid injections.
Ultrasound or heat therapy.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections.
Shockwave Therapy.
While rare, if conservative treatment fails to resolve the issue and pain becomes incapacitating, surgical intervention may be required to remove diseased, degenerated tendon tissue.
This type of procedure is generally performed by minimally invasive surgery including arthroscopy, followed by rehabilitation therapy.
PREVENTING SELFIE ELBOW
While avoiding such overuse conditions is difficult for athletes and others inflexibly bound to their activity, those experiencing Selfie Elbow are encouraged to limit their Selfie activity and engage their upper extremity in other exercise during off time.
Also, frequently changing arm position, and possibly arms, while taking selfies can help reduce the strain on the elbow and the tendons and muscles which support it.
Asking your friend to click your photos, an old method of taking photos has indeed no parallel at all.
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