title: Examination of and intervention for a patient with chronic lateral elbow pain with signs of nerve entrapment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lateral elbow pain has several causes, which can make diagnosis difficult. The purpose of this case report is to describe the examination of and the intervention for a patient with chronic lateral elbow pain who had signs of nerve entrapment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient was a 43-year-old woman who had right lateral elbow pain for about 4 months, which she attributed to extensive keyboard work on a computer. She had a reduction in joint passive range of motion during "neural tension testing," an examination procedure to detect nerve entrapment. This sign, in combination with other findings, suggested that the patient had a mild entrapment of the deep radial nerve (radial tunnel syndrome). The patient was treated 14 times over a 10-week period with "neural mobilization techniques," which are designed to free nerves for movement; ultrasound; strengthening exercises; and stretching.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient had minimal symptoms at discharge, was pain-free, and had resumed all activities at a 4-month follow-up visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neural tension testing may be a useful examination procedure and mobilization may be useful for intervention for patients who have lateral elbow pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of South Dakota, 414 E Clark St, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA. rekstrom@usd.edu
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ekstrom
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004550:Elbow / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome