Elbow

Question 1

Standing or sitting

Stabilize arm. Apply an abduction force at the distal forearm while the ligament is palpated.

Answer 1

Ligamentous Valgus Instability Test

Medial collateral ligament instability

Laxity, decreased mobility, or change in pain

Question 2

Standing or sitting

Stabilize a slightly flexed elbow.
Apply an adduction force to the distal forearm while the ligament is palpated.

Answer 2

Ligamentous Varus Instability Test

Lateral collateral ligament instability

Laxity, decreased mobility, soft end feel, or change in pain

Question 3

Supine

Test arm overhead. Grasp wrist and forearm with an extended elbow and forearm supinated.
Flex elbow and apply a valgus stress and axial compression while maintaining supination.

Answer 3

Lateral Pivot Shift Test of the Elbow

Ligament instability

At 40° - 70° there is a sudden clunk of the joint which can be palpated and seen.

Question 4

Standing or sitting

Stabilize elbow. PT resists the patient as they actively make a fist, pronate the forearm, and radially deviate and extend the wrist

Answer 4

Lateral Epicondylitis Method 1

Tennis elbow/Lateral epicondylitis

Sudden and severe pain around the lateral epicondyle of the humerus

Question 5

Standing or sitting

Palpate the lateral epicondyle and passively pronate forearm, then flex the wrist and extend the elbow

Answer 5

Lateral Epicondylitis Method 2

Tennis elbow/Lateral epicondylitis

Pain over lateral epicondyle

Question 6

Standing or sitting

Palpate medial epicondyle while passively supinating forearm and extending the elbow and wrist

Answer 6

Medial Epicondylitis Test

Golfer’s elbow/Medial epicondylitis

Pain over medial epicondyle of the humerus

Question 7

Standing or sitting

Tap finger between the olecranon process and medial epicondyle

Answer 7

Tinel’s Sign at the Elbow

Dysfunction of ulnar nerve at the olecranon

Tingling sensation in the ulnar distribution and hand distal to the point of compression

Question 8

Sitting

Flex elbow to 90°. Resist pronation as elbow extends

Answer 8

Pronator Teres Syndrome Test

Median nerve entrapment within pronator teres

Tingling in the median nerve distribution in the forearm and hand

Question 9

Standing or sitting

Patient pinches the tips of the index finger and thumb together

Answer 9

Pinch Grip Test

Pathology to the anterior interosseous nerve

Unable to pinch tip to tip; instead pinches pulp to pulp