H&P: Elbow, Wrist, Hand, Neck, and Back

Lateral Epicondylitis ("Tennis Elbow")

Microtrauma and inflammation of the wrist extensor tendons at their origin on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

Medial Epicondylitis ("Golfer's Elbow")

Inflammation of the wrist flexor and pronator tendons at their insertion on the medial epicondyle of the humerus.

Cozen Test

Test for lateral epicondylitis where the patient makes a fist with forearm pronated and resists wrist extension.

Mill's Test

Test for lateral epicondylitis performed by passively pronating the forearm, flexing the wrist, and fully extending the elbow.

Maudsley Test

Test for lateral epicondylitis where the patient resists extension of the third (middle) digit with the forearm pronated.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Median nerve compression within the carpal tunnel causing numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.

Tinel's Sign (Wrist)

Diagnostic test for carpal tunnel syndrome performed by tapping over the median nerve at the flexor retinaculum to elicit paresthesia.

Phalen's Sign

Test for carpal tunnel syndrome where the patient holds the dorsal surfaces of both hands together in maximal wrist flexion for 60 seconds.

Finkelstein Test

Provocative test for de Quervain's tenosynovitis performed by flexing the thumb into the palm, making a fist, and moving the wrist into ulnar deviation.

Anatomical Snuffbox

Triangular depression on the dorsoradial wrist bordered by thumb extensor and abductor tendons; tenderness suggests a scaphoid fracture.

Grip Strength Test

Assessment evaluating hand intrinsic/extrinsic motor weakness and distal neuromuscular function by squeezing examiner's fingers.

Thenar Eminence

Fleshy muscular mass at the base of the thumb innervated by the median nerve, evaluated for atrophy in chronic nerve compression.

Hypothenar Eminence

Fleshy muscular mass at the base of the fifth digit (little finger) innervated by the ulnar nerve.

Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) Joints

Condyloid joints articulating the distal metacarpal heads with the proximal phalanges of the fingers.

Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joints

Hinge joints located between the proximal and middle phalanges of digits 2 through 5.

Distal Interphalangeal (DIP) Joints

Hinge joints located between the middle and distal phalanges of digits 2 through 5.

Cervical Range of Motion

Assessment of neck mobility incorporating flexion (chin to chest), extension (looking up), rotation (looking over shoulders), and lateral bending (ear to shoulder).

Paravertebral Musculature

Postural muscles running parallel to the vertebral column inspected and palpated for spasm, hypertrophy, or asymmetry.

Straight Leg Raise (SLR) Test

Radicular test for L5–S1 disc herniation performed by passively raising the extended leg and dorsiflexing the foot to stretch the sciatic nerve.

Crossed Straight Leg Raise Test

Maneuver where raising the uninvolved leg reproduces radicular pain on the contralateral symptomatic side