Test: Elbow Flexion - Manual Testing

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Background/Purpose

Elbow flexion involves the biceps brachii, brachialis and brachioradialis muscles.
The muscles of elbow flexion have slightly different innervations and actions:
Biceps brachii: musculocutaneous nerve from C5-6; action: tested forearm supination and elbow flexion
Brachialis: musculocutaneous nerve from C5-6; action: tested with forearm pronated
Brachioradialis: radial nerve from C5-6; action: tested with forearm between supination and pronation.
Typical range of motion for the elbow is 0-150 degrees.

Procedure

Subject is seated on table with one arms at their side and the test arm at about 90 degrees of elbow flexion and 20 degrees of shoulder flexion. The clinician stands in front of the subject and places one hand on the shoulder and the other over the flexor surface of the distal forearm,
The clinician instruction to the patient is "Bend your elbow,. Hold it. Don't let me pull it down."
Grade 5: Complete ROM and hold against maximal resistance.
Grade 4: Complete ROM and holds against moderate resistance but end point may not be firm.
Grade 3: Completes ROM with no manual resistance. In this case the clinician only cups the elbow for support. Patient instruction: "Bend your elbow."
Grade 2: Completes a partial ROM while supine.
Garde 1: The examiner can palpate a contractile response.
Grade 0: There is no palpable contractile response.
Performed: Unilaterally

Dialog

Resisted elbow flexion strength.

Criteria

• Completes full ROM
• Completes against maximal resistance

Measurement

0.00

LOINC Code

0

Scale/Grading

Pass/Fail