Elbow Assessment

Question 1

Elbow bony palpation

Answer 1

Patient seated, elbow on pillow or table
- Medial and lateral epicondyles
- Radial head (passive pronation)
- Radio-ulnar superior joint
- Olecranon

Question 2

Forearm Extensors
- CEO
- Superficial and deep
- Palpation movements

Answer 2

CEO = Lateral Epicondyle

SUPERFICIAL (Lat to Med)
- Brachioradialis
- ECRL = wrist extension + radial dev, tendon in-line with 2nd MC
- ECRB = same as above, in-line with 3rd MC
- ED = playing piano (wrist and finger extension)
- EDM = little finger extension
- ECU = wrist extension + ulnar dev

DEEP (Lat to Med)
- Supinator = supination
- APL = thumb abduction (inferior boarder snuffbox)
- EPB = thumb extension (inferior snuffbox)
- EPL = thumb extension (superior snuffbox boarder)
- EI

Question 3

Forearm Flexors
- CFO
- Superficial and deep
- Palpation movements

Answer 3

CFO = medial epicondyle

SUPERFICIAL (Lat to Med)
- PT = pronation
- FCR = wrist flexion + radial dev
- PL = opposition
- FDS = wrist flexion
- FCU = wrist flexion + ulnar dev

DEEP (Lat to Med)
- FPL = thumb flexion
- FDP
- PQ

Question 4

Biceps Brachii

Answer 4

O: Coracoid process (short head) and supraglenoid tubercle scapula (long head)
I: radial tuberosity
N: Musculocutaneous
A: elbow flexion and some supination

Question 5

Triceps Brachii

Answer 5

O: Infraglenoid tubercle scapula (LH), posterior humerus (Medial and Lateral heads)
I: olecranon
N: Radial
A: elbow extension

Palpation: prone, shoulder 90 abduction, resisted elbow extension

Question 6

Elbow AROM + PROM

Answer 6

Flexion / extension
Supination / pronation (holding pen for goniometry)

Question 7

Elbow Accessory

Answer 7

• Radial head AP + PA glides
• Radiohumeral distal traction (90 degrees elbow flexion) - holding near elbow joint

Question 8

MMT Strength

Answer 8

Flexion / Extension - must be applied at 90 degrees (not neutral), arm resting on bed

Supination / Pronation - one hand on elbow for stability and other on wrist to provide pressure

Question 9

MMT Length: Biceps + Triceps

Answer 9

Biceps: Elbow extension and some shoulder extension (supine)

Triceps: elbow flexion (supine)