Execution
- 1Seat the patient with the elbow flexed.
- 2Give the patient a 2.5 kg or 5.5 lb weight.
- 3Ask the patient to lift the weight by flexing the elbow with the forearm pronated.
- 4Ask the patient to repeat the lift with the forearm supinated.
- 5Record whether lateral or medial epicondyle pain is reproduced in each forearm position.
Positive outcome
Lateral epicondyle pain during the pronated lift suggests lateral epicondylalgia. Medial epicondyle pain during the supinated lift suggests medial epicondylalgia. Magee notes that the movement also loads the biceps and brachialis.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polkinghorn (2002) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
CommentPolk’s test is a functional loading test intended to help differentiate medial and lateral epicondylalgia by forearm position. The original publication is descriptive and does not provide robust diagnostic-accuracy estimates. Treat it as a symptom-modifying load test, not a definitive diagnosis.
Low Clinical Value