Only in gymnastics do athletes bear all their weight on their arms. Handstands, vaulting, and other activities place tremendous pressure on the elbows (Fig. 3). The pressure can damage the joints and cause the contact surfaces to become soft or weak. The damaged areas may or may not be painful at first, but a piece of the bone or hardened cartilage may break loose in the joint. if the problem is detected before the piece comes loose, the athlete is told to rest and limit training activities. If the loose piece causes pain or causes the joint to catch, it is usually removed during surgery. The damaged surface of the bone can lead to problems in later life, like arthritis or joint degeneration.