Valgus Extension Overload Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Posteromedial Impingement (Pitcher's Elbow).
How to Perform
- Action: Rapidly extend the patient's elbow while applying a valgus stress.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain in the posteromedial elbow (olecranon tip abutting the fossa) or a mechanical lock/grind.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Valgus Extension Overload 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 Valgus Extension Overload Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
