Elbow Flashcards
Observation for the elbow
- Scapulohumeral rhythm
- Hand posture
- Carrying angle
AROM/PROM for elbow
- Elbow Flexion/extension
- Wrist Flexion/extension
- Pronation/supination
Strength test for elbow
- Elbow flex/ext
- Wrist flex/ext
- Pronation/supination
- Grip strength
Ligament stress test for elbow
- Varus stress test
- Valgus stress test
Varus stress test
- One hand on forearm other hand on elbow
- Push elbow laterally to assess the LCL
Valgus stress test
- One hand on forearm other hand on elbow
- Push elbow medially to assess the MCL
Special tests for the elbow
- Wrist extensor stretch test
- Wrist flexor stretch test
Wrist extensor stretch test
- Hand out fully flex the wrist with the other hand to stretch the extensor muscles
Wrist flexor stretch test
- Hand out fully extend the wrist with the other hand to stretch the flexor muscles
Palpation for the elbow
- Common extensor origin
- Common flexor origin
- Olecranon
Injuries for the elbow
- Olecranon bursitis –> acute
- Lateral epicondylalgia –> chronic
- Medial epicondylagia –> chronic
- Collateral ligament sprain –> acute
History for olecranon bursitis
- Fall on point of elbow pain on point of elbow
- Pain with pressure over elbow
- Swelling on elbow
Assessment for olecranon bursitis
- Visible swelling
- Pain over olecranon
- Boggy feeling on palpation
Treatment for olecranon bursitis
- POLIE
- Protective padding for sport
- Alleviate aggravating factors –> reduce any leaning on elbow, rest from aggravating activities, use sling or brace, elevate the elbow
History for lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow)
- Pain with gripping, worse when using arm
- Pain over lateral epicondyle
- Pain with certain wrist movements
Assessment for lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow)
- Pain with active wrist extension
- Decreased wrist flexion PROM with pain
- Pain with resisted supination
- Decreased grip strength that elicits pain
- Pain with stretch test of wrist extensors
- Pain over common extensor origin
Treatment for lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow)
- Correct shoulder biomechanics
- Stretch wrist extensors
- Isometric –> hand under table working on extension
- Concentric –> dumbbell wrist extension
- Eccentric –> assist lifting with non-affected hand then slowly lower dumbbell
- Supination strength –> dumbbell
History for medial epicondylalgia (golfer’s elbow)
- Pain with gripping, worse when using arm
- Pain over medial epicondyle
- Pain with wrist flexion
Assessment for medial epicondylalgia (golfer’s elbow)
- Pain and weakness with active wrist flexion
- Pain with gripping
- Worse when using arm
- Pain with resisted pronation
- Pain with stretch of wrist flexors
- Pain over common flexor origin
Treatment for medial epicondylalgia (golfer’s elbow)
- Correct shoulder biomechanics
- Stretch wrist flexors
- Isometric –> hand pushing down on injured hand
- Concentric –> dumbbell wrist flexion
- Eccentric –> assist lifting with non-affected hand then slowly lower dumbbell
History for collateral ligament sprain
- Another athlete landing on elbow
- Acute pain in medial or lateral side of elbow
Assessment for collateral ligament sprain
- Limited elbow flex or ext
- Visible swelling
- Laxity and pain either radial or ulnar collateral ligament stress test
Treatment for collateral ligament sprain
- POLICE
- Support elbow with sling
- Restore ROM –> gentle bend and straighten elbow using opposite hand for flex/ext, rotate forearm for sup/pro
- Stregthening –> tricep dip for elbow extension, resisted band on forearm for flexion, dumbbell pro/sup
