Sports Medicine II
Patient Position
Examiner Position
Procedures
Positive Test
Implications
Patient Position
Examiner Position
Procedures
Positive Test
Implications
Patient Position
Examiner Position
Procedures
Positive Test
Implications
Patient Position
Examiner Position
Procedures
Positive Test
Implications
Patient Position
Examiner Position
Procedures
Elbow and Forearm Special Tests
Name _______________________
Valgus Stress Test
standing or sitting, elbow flexed to 25°
standing lateral to the joint being tested
1. One hand supports the lateral elbow with the fingers reaching behind the joint to
palpate the medial joint line with the opposite hand grasping the distal forearm.
2. Valgus force is applied to the joint.
3. Repeat procedure with the elbow in various degrees of flexion.
increased laxity compared with the opposite side, pain, or both
sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament
Varus Stress Test
standing or sitting, elbow flexed to 25°
standing medial to the joint being tested
1. One hand supports the medial elbow with the fingers reaching behind the joint to
palpate the lateral joint line with the opposite hand grasping the distal forearm.
2. Varus force is applied to the joint.
3. Repeat procedure with the joint in various degrees of flexion.
increased laxity compared with the opposite side, pain, or both
moderate laxity-sprain to radial collateral ligament
gross laxity-sprain to the annular or accessory lateral collateral ligament
Tennis Elbow Test
seated with the tested elbow flexed to 90°, the forearm pronated, and the fingers flexed
standing lateral to the patient
1. Position one hand over the dorsal aspect of the wrist and hand.
2. Resist wrist extension while palpating the lateral epicondyle and common attachment of
the wrist extensors.
pain in the lateral epicondyle
lateral epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
Golfer’s Elbow Test
seated with the tested elbow flexed to 90°, the forearm supinated, and the fingers extended
standing facing the patient
1. Position one hand over the palmar aspect of the wrist and hand.
2. Resist wrist flexion while palpating the medial epicondyle and common attachment of
the wrist flexors.
pain in the medial epicondyle
medial epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow)
Tinel’s Sign
Seated with elbow in slight flexion
standing facing patient
1. Grasp the patient’s lateral wrist.
2. Tap between the olecranon process and the medial epicondyle over the ulnar nerve.
Positive Test
Implications
Tingling along the ulnar distribution of the forearm, hand, and fingers
ulnar nerve trauma