Stiff Elbow

Overview

4.3 out of 5 (3 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post-Assessment Questions

6

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

17 Feb 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


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Activity Description

Elbow stiffness is a relatively common condition that may cause significant disability. The soft tissues around the joint, such as the capsule, ligaments, and tendons, become thickened, scarred, or fibrotic, leading to a reduced range of motion. Various etiologies can give rise to this condition, including trauma, surgery, degenerative processes, and inflammatory disorders. Risk factors include prior elbow injury, repetitive use, and underlying joint disease. In pediatric populations, elbow stiffness may follow fractures, while in adults, it is more commonly associated with joint degeneration or postoperative complications. Elbow stiffness is most prevalent in middle-aged adults, with a higher incidence in individuals who engage in repetitive overhead activities or have had elbow surgery.

Diagnosis involves clinical examination, radiographic imaging to rule out fractures or degenerative changes, and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging or arthroscopy to evaluate soft tissue involvement. Management typically includes physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, or surgical intervention in severe cases. The prognosis varies with the cause and severity of stiffness. While most cases improve with conservative treatment, severe cases may require surgical intervention, and outcomes can vary from full recovery to persistent motion limitations.

This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance learners' proficiency in evaluating and managing elbow stiffness. Participants will gain a broader grasp of the condition's causes, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and recommended diagnostic and management practices. Greater competence will enable clinicians to collaborate effectively within an interprofessional team caring for patients with elbow stiffness.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Differentiate the various etiologies of elbow stiffness.

  • Identify the signs, symptoms, and diagnostic findings suggestive of elbow stiffness.

  • Select clinically appropriate interventions for elbow stiffness.

  • Collaborate with the interprofessional team to educate, treat, and monitor patients with elbow stiffness to improve patient outcomes.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Physicians and Physician Associates: StatPearls, LLC designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians and PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Internal Medicine: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment Examination requirements of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery’s (ABOS) Maintenance of Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABOS credit.

American Board of Pathology: Successful completion of this Continuing Certification activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 Lifelong Learning (CME) credits in the American Board of Pathology’s Continuing Certification Program.

American Board of Pediatrics: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

American Board of Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirement(s) of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Daniel R. on 12/22/2022

kelly b. on 6/25/2023

Denise W. on 11/1/2023

Unlimited Physician CME

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6740 CME activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 8011.5 hours of CME.

Learn About Lifetime CME

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$49 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$329 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$499 per 1 year per user