Elbow
Ligamentous Instability (Lateral)
Evidence: suggestive
Prone Push-Up Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Functional test for PLRI.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies prone (on stomach) with elbows flexed 90° and forearms supinated.
- Action: Patient attempts to push up off the floor.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: The radial head subluxates (dislocates) causing apprehension or the arm to give way.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Prone Push-Up 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 Prone Push-Up Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
