Studies show that the elbows of a sleigh driver can be exposed to large amounts of stress and strain while going about their day-to-day duties behind the reins, similar to forces incurred in injuries such as Dancer’s knee.
The task of gripping the reins can force large amounts of tension to gather around the forearm flexor and extensor muscles, causing some sleigh drivers to have to Donner brace around their elbow to reduce their symptoms during the busier times of the year.
The large amounts of swelling and inflammation in the worst of SDE cases can cause a Rudolph cyst; a bulbous mass that is not only painful, but glows bright red.
Treatment for SDE can take many forms, including but not restricted to:
C ompression
U ltrasound
P roprioceptive exercises
I ce
D ry needling
Indeed, SDE is not a topic to Prancer round as the consequences of leaving this condition untreated can be quite serious. Loss of the affected arm is not unheard of, so if your daughter or wife has this condition, I strongly recommend you Dasher off to the physiotherapist ASAP!
So Comet visit your friendly LifeForce physio today in Golden Grove to have your Sleigh Driver’s Elbow treated!
Call 8289 2800 to make a physiotherapy appointment at LifeForce health solutions at Golden Grove, to see what one of our experienced and friendly physiotherapists can do to help with your work-related condition. Alternatively, send us a message or comment on Facebook or via our website, and we’ll be in touch!
REFERENCES
Blitzen, R & Vixen, R 2019, “Effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment in improving recovery and reducing loss of work time in workers with Sleigh Driver’s Elbow”, Journal of Merry Christmas, vol. 25, no. 12, pp 2019.
