Physical Exam for Tennis Elbow
During the physical exam for
tennis elbow, your doctor may examine both of your
arms, as well as your:
- Elbow and the muscles, tendons, nerves, and
blood vessels in your arm and wrist, to check for
tendon and nerve or vascular problems, including pain,
weakness, or tingling.
- Neck. (Pain in your elbow may be
referred from the nerves in your neck.)
If it is clear that there are no broken bones, your doctor
will move your arm around to check for range of motion, flexibility, and
strength.
A physical exam of the elbow is done
when the elbow is sore and painful.
Normal
Results from the physical exam don't show any serious
problem in the elbow. Your doctor may suggest resting your arm and applying ice
at home. He or she may also suggest further tests.
Abnormal
Abnormal results from the physical exam may
include:
- Pain in the elbow, either at rest or while
moving through a normal range of motion.
- Pain in the elbow when
pressure is applied while extending the wrist (in the "stop traffic" position)
and holding against resistance, or when pressure is applied while twisting the
forearm.
- Tenderness to the touch (palpation).
- Inability
to move the arm through a normal range of motion.
- Grinding
sensation when the elbow is moving.
- Muscle weakness in the arm,
wrist, or hand.
- Tingling when a nerve area is tapped (Tinel's sign)
or difficulty pinching with fingers (possible nerve
damage).
- Altered or decreased sensation in the arm, wrist, or
hand.
Tennis elbow can usually be
diagnosed with a medical history and a physical exam. Your doctor may recommend
treatment without doing X-rays, to see whether the problem gets better. If it
does, no more tests are needed.
Complete the medical test information form (PDF)
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to help you prepare for this test.
|
By
| Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
| William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
| David Bardana, MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine |
|
Last Revised
| January 10, 2013 |
Last Revised:
January 10, 2013
