Elbow Joint and Special Tests

Question 1

What is resting position of the elbow?

Answer 1

70 degrees flexion and 10 degrees supination

Question 2

What is elbow (humeroulnar) distraction indicated for?

Answer 2

evaluation, pain control and to increase flexion or extension

Question 3

What is a distal elbow (humeroulnar) glide indicated for?

Answer 3

to increase flexion, use a scooping mechanism

Question 4

What is resting position for humeroradial joint?

Answer 4

elbow extended, forearm supination

Question 5

When is humeroradial distraction indicated?

Answer 5

increase mobility of radius or correct pushed elbow

Question 6

When is humeroradial joint compression indicated?

Answer 6

to reduce a pulled elbow subluxation

Question 7

When is a dorsal humeroradial glide indicated?

Answer 7

to increase extension, pushing down towards floor

Question 8

When is a volar humeroradial joint glide indicated?

Answer 8

to increase flexion, pulling up towards you

Question 9

What is resting position of proximal radioulnar joint?

Answer 9

elbow flexed 70 degrees, forearm supinated 35 degrees

Question 10

When is a dorsal or volar glide indicated for proximal radioulnar joint?

Answer 10

dorsal- increase pronation

volar- increase supination

Question 11

What is cubital tunnel syndrome?

Answer 11

compression of ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel, just lateral to medial epicondyle

Question 12

What are indications for cubital tunnel syndrome testing?

Answer 12

pain, numbness of 4th and 5th finger and medial forearm, difficulty opening fingers or gripping

Question 13

What is the elbow flexion test?

Answer 13

patient sits with arms by side, have them depress shoulders and flex elbows with supination and wrist extension and hold position 3-5 minutes

Question 14

What is a positive elbow flexion test?

Answer 14

pt describes symptoms as they occur stop test if they happen before 3 minutes

positive is replicating of sx

Question 15

What is pressure provocation test?

Answer 15

PT places finger over pts ulnar nerve with elbow in 20 degrees of flexion and forearm supination test hold for 60 seconds

positive test- reproduction of sx

Question 16

What is lateral epicondylagia?

Answer 16

aka tennis elbow pain associated with pain of the common wrist extensors at lateral epicondyle

Extensor carpi radialis brevis most common

Question 17

What is Cozen’s test?

Answer 17

pt is sitting or supine, starts in slight pronation and slight elbow flexion, pt then pronates, extends wrist and radially deviates against resistance of PT

Question 18

What is positive result of Cozen’s?

Answer 18

pain with resistance at lateral epicondylitis

Question 19

What is Mill’s test?

Answer 19

stretching muscle at lateral epicondyle by passively pronating the forerarm extending elbow, extending elbow and fully flexing the wrist, slight shoulder extension

positive if pain at lateral epicondyle

Question 20

What is Maudsley test?

Answer 20

patient is seated and PT palplates lateral epicondyle while applying resistance to middle finger extension

pos test if pain repoduce and could indicate inflammation of extensor digitorum communis

Question 21

What is golfers elbow?

Answer 21

pain or tenderness at medial epicondyle

Question 22

What is position 1 for golfer elbows testing?

Answer 22

seated with elbow in slight flexion and forearm supinated

PT applies pressure of wrist extension

Question 23

What is position 2 for golfers elbow?

Answer 23

seated with forearm fully supinated

pt passively puts patient into full wrist and elbow extension

Question 24

What position if the medial UCL ligament taught?

Answer 24

anterior band- 20-120 degrees of flexion

posterior band- flexion beyond 55 degrees

Question 25

What is the valgus test of UCL?

Answer 25

for anterior band

pt supine, PT stabilizes distal humerus, elbow flexed between 20-30 degrees and valgus stress applied

Question 26

What is the Milking manuver?

Answer 26

for posterior band

pt seated and the arm is in shoulder flexion, ADD and ER and elbow flexion 70-80 degrees and forearm supination and PT pulls down on thumb to recreate a valgus stress

Question 27

What is a moving valgus stress test?

Answer 27

pt in sitting and PT stands behind pt

pts arm put into 90 degrees ABD and 120 elbow flexion, PT applies a modest valgus force until into full ER

while applying valgus force the elbow is quickly extended to 30 degrees

Question 28

What is a positive moving valgus stress?

Answer 28

if pain with test for chronic MCL tear in range of 120 to 70 degrees

Question 29

What is the lateral (radial) collateral ligament or varus test?

Answer 29

pt sitting with elbow flexed 5-30 degrees before full extension, PT stabilizes the humerus and adducts ulna