Question

4. A baseball player approaches you to discuss their medial elbow pain.

1. List 6 anatomical similarities or differences between the knee and elbow to better help the athlete understand the elbow biomechanics.

2. What signs/symptoms would you expect to see if the athlete was presenting with medial epicondylitis?

3. What elbow ligament might the athlete have injured and why is this common among overhead throwing athletes?  

iv. What special test would you perform to confirm ligament injury and what end feel would you expect if there is a complete rupture?

Answer 1

difference or similarities between knee and elbow:

A. Difference

knee:

1. joints of lower limb

2. extensor tendon of knee is inserted into preaxial leg bone

3. large sesamoid bone, patella in the extensor tendon of knee, and only a small tuberosity on the tibia at the insertion of tendon.

4. There are four bursae found in the knee joint.i.e Suprapatella bursa, Prepatella bursa , Infrapatella bursa , Semimembranosus bursa

5. four main movements of knee joint are flexion and extension ,Lateral rotation, Medial rotation

Elbow:

1. joints of upper limb

2. extensor tendon of elbow is attached to post axiall forearm bone.

3. no sesamoid bone, but well developed bony prominence at the site of its insertion

4. lots of bursae present.but only a few have clinical importance.i.e. Intratendinous, Subtendinous, Subcutaneous (olecranon) bursa.

5. allows flexion and extension movement

B.Similarities

synovial joint----- Hinge

synovial membrane-----synovial fluid

2. Medial epicondylitis is a type of tendinitis that affects the inside of the elbow. It develops where tendons in the forearm muscle connect to the bony part on the inside of the elbow.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe:

• pain on the inside of your elbow
• elbow stiffness
• hand and wrist weakness
• tingling sensation or numbness in the fingers, especially the ring and little fingers
• difficulty moving the elbow