Forearm & Elbow

• Inspection - Bony Deformities

  posture

  carrying angle

  relative position of the olecranon, medial + lateral epicondyles

  
• Inspection - Colour, Muscle Wasting, Swelling & Palpation

  colour - redness (inflamed), purple/blue (bruised)

  muscle wasting - loss of muscle tone in upper + forearm

  palpation - heat, swelling, synovial thickening
• Active Elbow Flexion

  forearm bends towards the upper arm at the elbow joint

  primary movers = biceps brachii, brachialis + brachioradialis

  norm ROM = 0-145
• Active Elbow Extension

  straightening of arm, moved by triceps brachii + anconeus

  
• Active Pronation of Radio-Ulnar Joint

  forearm rotates, turning palm downwards

  primary movers = pronator teres + pronator quadratus

  
• Active Supination

  rotational movmement, turning palm upwards

  primary movers = biceps brachii + supinator
• Special Test for Tennis Elbow

  resisted wrist extesnion to assess lateral epindondylitis

  fully extend elbow, forearm pronated + wrist is pushed into flexion, ask pt to resit by extending wrist
• Special Test for Golfer Elbow

  resisted wrist flexion

  screening patient for medial epincondylagia

  pt report medial elbow + proximal forearm pain w activities that rquiere wrsit flexion + forearm pronation

  fully extend arm, supinate forearm, extend wrist, ask pt to flex wrist