Elbow Special Tests Flashcards
Ligament Instability Test (Varus/Valgus Stress Test)
PURPOSE- To identify ligament laxity or restriction
DESCRIPTION- Patient sitting or supine, elbow placed in 20 to 0 degree of flexion. Valgus force placed through elbow tests ulnar collateral ligament. Varus force tests radial collateral ligament.
RESULT-Primary finding is laxity but pain may be present.
Lateral Epicondylitis Test
Also known as Tennis elbow test/ Cozen’s test
PURPOSE- Identify lateral epicondylopathy
DESCRIPTION- The patient is sitting with elbow 90 degree flexion then asked to actively make a fist, pronate the forearm, and radially deviate and extend the wrist while the examiner resists the motion.
RESULT- Sudden severe pain in the area of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus is a positive sign
Mill’s Test
PURPOSE- Identify lateral epicondylopathy
DESCRIPTION- While palpating the lateral epicondyle, the examiner passively pronates the patient’s forearm, flexes the wrist fully, and extends the elbow
RESULT- Pain over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus indicates a positive test.
Maudsley’s Test
PURPOSE- Identify lateral epicondylopathy
DESCRIPTION- The examiner resists extension of the third digit of the hand distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint, stressing the extensor digitorum muscle and tendon
RESULT- Positive test is indicated by pain over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus
Elbow Flexion Test
PURPOSE- Identify cubital tunnel syndrome
DESCRIPTION- The patient is asked to fully flex the elbow with extension of the wrist and shoulder girdle abduction (90°) and depression and to hold this position for 3 to 5 minutes. Symptoms should develop in less than 5 seconds
RESULT- Tingling or paresthesia in the ulnar nerve distribution of the forearm and hand indicates a positive test. The test helps to determine whether a cubital tunnel (ulnar nerve) syndrome is present.
Medial Epicondylitis Test [Golfer’s Elbow Test]
PURPOSE- Identify medial epicondylopathy (Golfer’s elbow test)
DESCRIPTION- While the examiner palpates the patient’s medial epicondyle, the patient’s forearm is passively supinated and the examiner extends the elbow and wrist.
RESULT- A positive sign is indicated by pain over the medial epicondyle of the humerus
Tinel’s Sign
PURPOSE- Identifies dysfunction of ulnar nerve at olecranon
DESCRIPTION- The area of the ulnar nerve in the groove is tapped.
RESULT- A positive sign is indicated by a tingling sensation in the ulnar distribution of the forearm and hand distal to the point of compression of the nerve. The test indicates the point of regeneration of the sensory fibers of a nerve. The most distal point at which the patient feels the abnormal sensation represents the limit of nerve regeneration.
Pronator Teres Syndrome Test
PURPOSE- Identify median nerve entrapment within pronator teres
DESCRIPTION- The patient sits with the elbow flexed to 90°. The examiner strongly resists pronation as the elbow is extended
RESULT- Tingling or paresthesia in the median nerve distribution in the forearm and hand indicates a positive test.
