UE Joint biomechanics Flashcards
What is the normal range for flexion and extension of the elbow joint?
Ext: 0 deg.
Flex AROM: 135-145 deg
Flex PROM: 150-160 deg
What prevents posterior displacement with elbow flexion?
What bony landmark prevents elbow hyperextension?
coronoid process sliding into coronoid fossa
olecranon locking into olecranon fossa
When is the elbow joint capsule at it’s maximum volume?
70-80 deg of flexion
What are the 3 parts of the MCL of the elbow?
-What are the characteristics of each?
Anterior: prevents valgus restraint through all elbow extension
Posterior: taut in full flexion
Transverse: no role in stability
What ligament is the primary restraint for elbow varus deviation and over supination?
What is the secondary restraint for these motions? When is each ligament tight?
What ligament restrains traction and lateral subluxation?
Elbow radial LCL
Lateral Ulnar Collateral Ligament and Annular Ligament
-tight in extreme flexion and any varus motion
Annular ligament
What is the usual carrying angle of the elbow joint? What is impacted if this angle is increased?
How does the elbow angle change with flexion and extension?
around 13 deg. of radial deviation but it is usually bigger in females and if the angle is increased it impacts the ulnar nerve
elbow laterally deviates in extension and medially deviates with flexion
What structures limit elbow extension?
What structures limit elbow flexion?
Extenion: anterior capsule, flexor muscles, and olecranon process/fossa
Flexion: soft tissue, posterior capsule, extensor muscles, radial head/fossa, coronoid process/fossa, also limited with forearm in mid-to-full pronation
When is the humero-ulnar joint in an open packed position?
When is it in the closed packed position?
Open: 70 deg. flexion and 10 deg supination
Closed: full extension and supination
When is the humero-radial joint in an open packed position?
When is it in the closed packed position?
Open: full extension and supination
Closed: 90 deg of flexion and 5 deg of supination
How does an injury typically impact the open and closed packed structures of the elbow?
closed-packed joints often fracture the associated bones
open-packed joints during injury typically dislocate
What is the role of the interosseous membrane (IOM)?
How is weight bearing from the hand transferred to the forearm?
- binds radius to ulna
- site for muscle attachments
- transfers force from radius to ulna
weight bearing from hand to forearm is through radius and is shared to ulna through the IOM
What ligament supports the proximal radio-ulnar joint?
annular ligament which allows spin and prevents radial head displacement
In the distal radio-ulnar ligaments when is the palmar aspect tight? When is the dorsal lig. tight?
Palmar: tight in supination
Dorsal: tight in pronation
What portion of the TFCC is avascular?
central portion
What is the normal ROM for radio-ulnar pronation and supination?
What is the functional ROM for each?
Pronation= around 75 deg. Supination= around 85 deg.
Function ROM is 50 deg for each
What is the radial head motion during supination and pronation movements?
Supination: radial head spins in annular lig/radial notch and “unwinds” from the ulna
Pronation: radial head spins in annular lig/radial notch and rotates over ulna
True or False: The proximal and distal radio-ulnar joint does not follow typical roll/glide rules for manual therapy.
False, the distal RU joint the roll/glide is the same but the proximal RU joint the roll/glide is opposite
What limits supination movements?
What limits pronation movements?
Supination: pronator teres, pronator quadratus, TFCC, palmar DRUJ ligaments, and IOM
Pronation: Supinator, Biceps, TFCC, and Dorsal DRUL ligament
When is the Biceps Brachii most effective?
most effective as an elbow flexor at 80-100 deg. of elbow flexion and with shoulder extension
most effective as a supinator at 90 deg. flexion