L15: Examination Elbow 2 Flashcards
What are the common conditions of the elbow?
What is the most common overuse injury of the elbow?
Lateral epicondylalgia / lateral epicondylitis / ‘tennis elbow’
What are the 3 characteristics of prevalence of laterla lebow tendinopathy?
- Common in those aged 35-54 years
- Dominant arm in both men and women
- Increased incidence
- Tennis players
- Occupations involving repetitive forearm and wrist movements
What are the 5 pathophysiologies for lateral elbow tendinopathy?
- Non-inflammatory
- Degenerative changes
- Collagen disorganisation
- Increase in cell numbers
- Neovessel ingrowth
What are the 5 degenerative changes in pathophysiology for lateral elbow tendinopathy?
- Collagen disorganisation
- Increase in cell numbers
- Neovessel ingrowth
What are the 2 pain system changes (peripheral and central NS) in pathophysiology for lateral elbow tendinopathy?
- Increased local neural transmitters
- Mechanical hyperalgesia - local and widespread
- Sensitive to painful mechanical sensatiion
What are the 3 motor system changes in pathophysiology for lateral elbow tendinopathy?
- Diminished strength / strength imbalance
- ↓ F and E strength in wrist and hand, but not MCP E
- Global UL weakness
- Morphological abnormalities (eg. ECRB)
- Sensori-motor changes
- Flexed wrist posture during grip
- ↓ UL reaction time, speed of movement
What are the 3 MOI in the presentation for lateral elbow tendinopathy?
- Acute – consider tendon tear
- Repetitive activity
- Alternating periods of activity & inactivity may lead to degenerative changes (may precede onset of symptoms)
What are the 3 presentations for lateral elbow tendinopathy?
- Pain over the lateral elbow, possibly radiating into forearm
- Pain and loss of strength with gripping/ lifting or tasks involving manipulation of hand/fingers
- Possible co-existing neck or shoulder pain
- Quite prevalent in people with tennis elbow
What is the palpation presentation for lateral elbow tendinopathy in the physical examination?
Pain over the lateral epicondyle or common extensor tendon origin
What are 3 presentations in the muscle exam for lateral elbow tendinopathy in the physical examination?
- Pain with passive wrist flexion
- Pain with resisted wrist extension
- Pain with resisted 2nd / 3rd finger extension
What are 3 gripping presentations in the muscle exam for lateral elbow tendinopathy in the physical examination?
- Pain with gripping
- Decreased pain-free grip strength
- Wrist deviated or more flexed
What are 4 characteristics in the muscle exam for lateral elbow tendinopathy in the physical examination?
- Gripping
- Pain with gripping
- Decreased pain-free grip strength
- Wrist deviated or more flexed
- Decreased strength or endurance at elbow, wrist and shoulder
- Difficulty dissociating wrist and finger extension
- Altered muscle control during functional tasks i.e. lifting, tennis, golf
What are treatment direction tests for lateral elbow tendinopathy in the physical examination?
Used to determine effect of MWM on symptoms
Example
- Ax of functional movement- pain-free grip / wrist or finger extension
- Lateral elbow glide / PA glide radial head/ cervical lateral glide (C5/6)
- ReAx of functional movement- Significant increase in grip strength i.e. by 50%
Eg. Lateral glide –> grip (for MWM)= decrease pain (don’t push painful structure rather than medial glide)
Eg. PA glide of radial head)
Purpose of glides:
- Biomechanical effect
- Neurophysiological effect (afferent input –> decrease pain)
What are investigations of lateral elbow tendinopathy in the physical examination?
- Absence of ultrasound findings can effectively rule condition out and prompt for other pathology
- Presence of a large tendon tear or lateral collateral ligament tear indicates a poorer prognosis and may prompt early referral
What are prognosis of lateral elbow tendinopathy in the physical examination?
83-90% much improved or completely recovered within 1 year if wait and see
- Except for A&E (no other treatments)
- Self-limiting condition = get better with time even without treatment