Throwing injuries of the elbow.

With the burgeoning popularity of racquet and throwing sports in our society, an increasing awareness of the elbow injuries sustained with repetitive upper extremity activity is important. Particular attention should be paid to proper technique, equipment, and duration of activity, and preventive measures should be taken. In the adolescent or adult individual who sustains elbow injury, it is imperative that the treating physician recognize the pathologic stage early in order to minimize the consequences of these activities. Only with a thorough history and physical examination of this complex joint and a firm understanding of the forces generated during activity will the sports medicine physician entertain the proper diagnosis and initiate a treatment protocol that is likely to be successful.