Ulna

The ulna is the longer of the two forearm bones, running from the elbow joint on the inner side of the arm down to the wrist, where it forms the ulnar bump on the pinky side of the hand.

What your ulna does and how it's involved in elbow and wrist problems

The ulna forms the hinge of the elbow joint through a deep C-shaped groove called the trochlear notch that wraps around the lower end of the humerus and allows the forearm to flex and extend. At the elbow, the ulna is critical for joint stability: the medial collateral ligament attaches here, and the ulnar nerve passes directly behind the medial epicondyle — the inner bony bump — making it vulnerable to compression when the elbow is bent repeatedly or held in a flexed position. This is why people who spend long periods with bent elbows sometimes develop numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers. At the wrist, the ulna contributes to a complex joint that allows forearm rotation — the motion of turning your palm up and down — and injuries to the structures at the far end of the ulna can produce wrist pain, clicking, and restricted rotation that's often misidentified as a wrist sprain.

How Sword Health can help

Elbow and wrist problems involving the ulna — whether from fracture, ligament injury, or nerve compression — respond well to targeted rehabilitation that restores range of motion, grip strength, and functional use of the arm. A physical therapist can guide that process from home through Sword, with clinical expertise overseeing your recovery.