{"id":11386,"date":"2022-08-11T10:26:23","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T08:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/?post_type=physiotherapy&p=11386"},"modified":"2025-01-30T11:06:56","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T10:06:56","slug":"elbow","status":"publish","type":"physiotherapy","link":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/physiotherapy\/elbow\/","title":{"rendered":"Elbow Assessment"},"featured_media":11123,"template":"","class_list":["post-11386","physiotherapy","type-physiotherapy","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"page-header-detail-page","background":{"background_image":11123,"background_image_alt_text":"Elbow Assessment"},"heading":"Elbow Assessment","subheading":"The Humeroulnar, Humeroradial and Radioulnar Joints","content_editor":"","button_type":"url","button_label":"","button_style":"button-two","button_internal_link":"","button_anchor":"","button_url":"https:\/\/study.physiotutors.com\/course\/orthopedic-physical-assessment\/","button_file":"","label":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"submenu","links":[{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Learn","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-3","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Extremity Online Course","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-4","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Reviews","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-5","button_url":"","button_file":null}],"dropdown_label":"Go to","button_right":{"button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Become a member","button_style":"button-three","button_internal_link":16662,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":""},"button_description":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content-content","section_options":{"vertical_alignment":"top","column_right_box":false,"column_left_width":"col-12 col-lg-4 offset"},"column_left":{"content_editor":"

Learn<\/h4>"},"column_right":{"content_editor":"\"\"\r\n

Elbow Assessment<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nThe elbow joint consists of three different bones enclosed in a single capsule: the humerus, the ulna, and the radius.\r\nThe humeroulnar joint is a simple hinge joint, which only allows flexion and extension between the trochlea notch of the ulna and the trochlea of the humerus.\r\nThe humeroradial joint is a ball-and-socket joint with the concave socket on the radius and the convex side on the capitulum of the humerus.\r\nAt last, the proximal radioulnar joint is a pivot joint that enables rotation of the forearm, called pronation and supination.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

Epidemiology<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThe point prevalence of elbow pain in the general (Dutch) population is 7.5%. The authors also report a 12-months prevalence of 11.2% with chronic pain in 5.3% of cases. Throughout the age groups, the prevalence of elbow pain increases gradually until it peaks in the age group between 45-64 years of age after which it drops only slightly. Regarding sexes, women have a slightly higher prevalence throughout all age groups compared to men (8.7% vs. 6.2%) (Picavet et al. 2003<\/a>).\r\n\r\n \r\n

Course\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nBot et al. (2005)<\/a>\u00a0conducted a prospective cohort study in 181 patients with elbow complaints in general practice. They found the following outcomes:\r\nElbow pain has an unfavorable prognosis with only 13% reporting full recovery at 3 months follow-up and a low 34% after 12 months.\r\nAt the same time, 90% of patients reported at least some improvement after 1 year follow-up.\r\nThe average baseline pain score of 5.3 (\u00b12.1) decreased by 1.3 (\u00b12.3) points at 3 months and 2.1 (\u00b12.6) points at 12 months. At the same time, baseline disability with a score of 34.6 (\u00b120.4) decreased by 6.3 (\u00b116.2) points at 3 months and by 11.9 (\u00b121.2) points after 1 year.\r\nThe 1-year recurrence was as high as 54%.\r\n\r\n \r\n

Prognostic factors<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIn the prospective cohort study of Bot et al. (2005)<\/a>\u00a0the following factors were associated with a negative prognosis for recovery (pain and disability) at 3 and 12 months follow-up:\r\n- Longer duration of complaints before consulting the GP\r\n- Having additional musculoskeletal comorbidity\r\n- Usage of the coping strategy 'retreating'\r\n- Less social support (at 3 months only)\r\n- History of elbow complaints (at 12 months only)\r\n- 'Worrying' as a coping style (at 12 months only)\r\n\r\n \r\n

Red flags<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nFractures<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRadial head fracture or fracture of the olecranon after trauma resulting in constant pain at rest\/night, pain at palpation, axial loading, vibration\r\n\r\nYou can use the elbow extension test to screen for elbow fractures:\r\n\r\n