Elbow instability is a looseness in the elbow joint that may cause the joint to catch, pop, or slide out of place during certain arm movements. It most often occurs as a result of an injury — typically, an elbow dislocation. This type of injury can damage the bone and ligaments that surround the elbow joint and work to keep it stable.
When the elbow is loose and repeatedly feels as if it might slip out of place, it is called recurrent or chronic elbow instability.
