Elbow
Epicondylitis (Lateral)
Evidence: suggestive
Chair Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Functional test for Lateral Epicondylitis.
How to Perform
- Task: Ask the patient to lift a chair (approx 3kg) using only three fingers (thumb, index, long).
- Technique: The elbow must be fully extended and the forearm pronated during the lift.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain at the lateral epicondyle or inability to lift the chair.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Chair Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Elbow region, combining the Chair Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
