Elbow Assessment
Physiotherapy · Subjective & Objective Examination
ELBOW
RightLeft
RightLeftBilat
1
Presentation & Red Flags
Red flags — screen & tick
Consider urgent / further review if any of:
No red flagsFractureOedemaColorationFunctional impotenceHigh-velocity fallCRPS / SDRC symptomsUnexplained loss of strength
2
History
3
Pain
Mark pain location, type & radiation
No pain
Worst
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night
Plot key events along the line — injury, flare-ups, treatments, return to activity, milestones.
4
Lifestyle & Context
Sleep
Diet
Smoking
Alcohol
5
Clinical Reasoning Framework
Characterise the presentation — circle / annotate the relevant descriptors on each strip.
Diagnosis
Stage of disorder
Pain features
6
Flags & Whole-Person Considerations
7
Goals
8
Objective — Elbow
Observation
Observation
| Swelling | Deformity | Muscle atrophy | Carrying angle | Medial / lateral asymmetry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Range of movement + pain A = active · P = passive — note quantity, quality and pain
| Movement | Active R | Active L | Passive R | Passive L | Quality / Pain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexion | |||||
| Extension | |||||
| Pronation | |||||
| Supination |
Special tests — lateral / medial elbow
| Special test | Right | Left | Finding / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cozen's test | |||
| Mill's test | |||
| Maudsley's test | |||
| Resisted extension | |||
| Golfer's elbow test |
Special tests — stability
| Special test | Right | Left | Finding / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valgus stress test | |||
| Varus stress test | |||
| Moving valgus stress test | |||
| Pivot shift test |
Neurological
| Special test | Right | Left | Finding / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinel test — ulnar nerve | |||
| ULNT1 — median nerve | |||
| ULNT2B — radial nerve | |||
| ULNT3 — ulnar nerve |
Strength bilateral comparison
| Movement | Right | Left | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elbow flexion | |||
| Elbow extension | |||
| Wrist flexion | |||
| Wrist extension | |||
| Pronation | |||
| Supination | |||
| Grip strength |
9
Functional Assessment
Functional movement
| Task | Right | Left | Observation / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push | |||
| Pull | |||
| Push-up | |||
| Plank | |||
| Weight-bearing | |||
| Lifting | |||
| Pronation | |||
| Supination | |||
| Power ball | |||
| Biceps curl | |||
| Triceps extension | |||
| Wrist extension | |||
| Wrist flexion | |||
| Finger extension | |||
| Others |
10
Adjacent Joints
Shoulder
ROM · Scapular control · GHJ mobility
Wrist
ROM · Pronation / supination · Grip
Cervical
If neurological symptoms: ROM · Spurling · ULNT
11
Others
12
Retest
| Date | Test / measure | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
13
Questionnaires
Patient-reported outcome measures — record the score at baseline and at each retest.
| Questionnaire | Date | Score | Notes / interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) | |||
| QuickDASH | |||
| DN4 — neuropathic pain |
14