Evaluation of the Elbow in Throwing Athletes

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Elbow injuries are increasingly common in athletes who throw.
• Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective intervention and a swift return to athletic activities.
• Clinicians need a structured approach to examine the elbow in this specific patient group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To educate clinicians on diagnosing elbow pathologies in throwing athletes.
• To provide a comprehensive video guide on elbow examination techniques for athletes.
• To address the lack of existing video resources with reliability measures for elbow assessment maneuvers.

Main Methods:

• Systematic physical examination of the elbow.
• Evaluation of range of motion and assessment for neurologic pathology.
• Performance and interpretation of special examination maneuvers tailored to elbow location.

Main Results:

• The described evaluation tools can assist in diagnosing diverse elbow pathologies.
• Reliability measures for many physical examination maneuvers require further study.
• Variability exists in the reliability of different diagnostic maneuvers.

Conclusions:

• A thorough history and targeted physical exam enable diagnosis of various elbow conditions.
• Early and precise diagnosis facilitates prompt nonoperative or operative management.
• Effective diagnosis supports an earlier return to competition for injured athletes.