Ortho Elbow Quiz

To strengthen the elbow extensors in a closed chain, you have the patient perform push-ups, using body weight as the source of resistance. Which of the following variations of push-ups provides the greatest amount of resistance to the elbow extensors?

Bilateral push-ups while in a fully prone position on the floor with weight on the hands and toes

You are modifying a home exercise program for a patient recovering from an episode of medial epicondylitis. Although pain has subsided, there is evidence of mild limitation of motion and pain when the involved muscle-tendon unit is placed on a stretch and overpressure is applied at the end of the available ROM. To fully lengthen the muscle-tendon unit typically involved in medial epicondylitis, have the patient perform a self-stretch by using the opposite hand to:

extend and radially deviate the wrist and extend the fingers while the elbow is extended and the forearm is supinated

You are educating your patient about returning to functional activities following a radial head resection with an implant. What should you tell her about returning to high-demand, high-impact activities?

Because she had a radial head implant, she may return to these activities after 6 months

T/F: in general, the musculocutaneous nerve innervates most of the elbow extensors

False

Your patient, a 19-year-old college student, sustained a nondisplaced fracture of the distal humerus, which was managed by closed reduction and 6 weeks of immobilization in a cast. Yesterday the cast was removed and the patient is to begin exercises to improve range of motion (ROM) and strength of the elbow. Your examination reveals significant limitation of elbow flexion/extension and forearm pronation/supination as well as reduced joint play at the elbow. The patient describes her elbow as feeling "very stiff," but pain occurs only when overpressure is applied at the end of the available ranges. One of the goals in this patient's treatment plan is to increase elbow ROM. With which of the following techniques should you begin to increase ROM?

Joint-mobilization techniques to stretch the restricted joints (grade III sustained glide or grade IV oscillation techniques) after evaluating the reactivity of the elbow joints with grade II sustained glides

Your goal is to increase end-range elbow flexion using joint-mobilization techniques. Which of the following techniques is appropriate?

Stabilize the distal humerus and apply a lateral glide of the ulna to increase varus

T/F: an irritation to the ulnar nerve may occur in conjunction with a medial collateral ligament sprain of the elbow

True

All of the following are true statements about motions at the elbow, except:

all of the above are true statements

All of the following are true statements about the proximal radioulnar joint, except:

all of the above are true statements

Which of the following is true about total elbow arthroplasty (TEA)?

one of the more common, long term complications after TEA is joint instability, particularly with unlinked or in patients who previously underwent excision of the radial head

Tennis elbow may involve all of the following structures, except:

pronator teres

In which of the following positions is the long head of the triceps brachii on full stretch?

standing or sitting in a chair, begin with the elbow fully flexed and the arm elevated overhead and stabilized to maintain the shoulder in as much flexion as possible

All of the following are true statements about the humeroradial joint, except:

the close packed position is approximately full elbow flexion

All are true statements about the humeroulnar joint, except:

the normal carrying angle for men is 13d and is 10d of valgus in women

All of the following are true statements about the forearm pronators, except:

the pronator teres functions predominately to pronate the forearm, but can also assist with elbow extension