Cozen’s Test of the Elbow joint
Cozen’s Test is an important examination test that helps to diagnose Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow).
Purpose
- The goal of Cozen’s test, which is also called the “resisted wrist extension test” or the “resistive tennis elbow test,” is to look for lateral epicondylalgia, also known as “tennis elbow.”
How to perform Cozen’s Test?
Patient Position
- The patient ought to be situated, with the elbow broadened lower arm maximal pronation, wrist radially kidnapped, and hand in the clenched hand.
Examiner Position
- While palpating the lateral epicondyle with the other hand on the hand’s dorsum, the therapist should stabilize the elbow.
Technique
- In the above-mentioned position, the therapist resists the patient’s request to move the wrist into dorsal flexion. If pain is felt on the lateral epicondyle, the test is positive.
- Resisted wrist extension should be performed with the patient’s fingers flexed in order to reduce the likelihood of finding pathology at the origin of the extensor digitorum.
- If there is pathology in this muscle or tendon, the counterforce should be applied to the dorsoradial aspect of the fist during isometric wrist extension to prevent involving the extensor carpi ulnaris and obtaining a false-positive result.
FAQs
One of the most common tests for Lateral Epicondylalgia is Cozen’s Test, which identifies pain caused by tendinopathic changes in the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle as a result of repetitive strain, typically from manual labor or racket sports like tennis. That’s why it is also known as tennis elbow.
A grip strength difference of 5% to 10% between elbow flexion and extension demonstrated high sensitivity (78 percent to 83 percent) and specificity (80 percent to 90 percent) on the Cozen’s test.
The results of the study using Cozen’s test and the Maudsley test show that there is 0% specificity and 84% sensitivity, respectively. This suggests that the Cozen’s and Maudsley tests are capable of correctly identifying healthy subjects.
The resisted wrist extension test and the resistive tennis elbow test are other names for Cozen’s test.
The recurrence of pain in the vicinity of the lateral epicondyle would constitute a positive test result. If this is positive, it may indicate radial nerve involvement because it also has the potential to put stress on the radial nerve.
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