Resisted Wrist Flexion Test
Also known as golfer's elbow test, medial epicondyle test.
Checks: The wrist flexor tendons that attach on the inner elbow
What this checks
This checks whether the tendons that bend the wrist and fingers, which share an attachment on the bony bump on the inside of the elbow, are irritable when you load them. Pain there when gripping is the classic golfer's elbow pattern.
Do not do this test if
you have had a recent significant elbow or wrist injury, you cannot move the wrist at all, the elbow is very painful at rest, you have pins and needles or weakness spreading into the hand, or you feel unwell with the pain. See a doctor first if any of those apply.
How to do it
Step 1
Straighten the arm with the palm facing up
- Hold the arm out in front with the elbow straight and the palm facing up.
- Open the hand.
Step 2
Curl the wrist up towards you
- Bend the wrist so the palm lifts towards your face.
- Keep the elbow straight.
Step 3
Press the hand back down with your other hand
- Use your other hand to push the palm back down while you resist.
- Light to moderate effort only, held for about 5 seconds.
Step 4
Note where any pain appears
- Pain over the bony bump on the inside of the elbow is the response to look for.
- Compare with the other arm.
What your result means
Likely normal
A negative result usually looks like this.
- You can hold the wrist against light pressure with no sharp pain.
- Effort is felt evenly through the forearm.
- Both arms feel similar.
Possible problem
A positive result usually looks like this.
- Pain over the bony bump on the inside of the elbow when you resist.
- That spot is tender to press.
- Gripping firmly reproduces the same pain.
Tips for a clearer result
Small things that make the test easier to read.
- Keep the elbow straight throughout.
- Compare with the other side.
- Stop if the pain is sharp or spreads into the hand.
How to read this
A positive result may point towards golfer's elbow, an irritation of the wrist flexor tendons where they attach at the inner elbow, but it cannot confirm it - nerve irritation at the inner elbow can feel similar, and only a hands-on assessment can tell you for sure.
This is a guide, not a diagnosis. It cannot rule a problem in or out - a physiotherapist can. If your symptoms are severe, spreading, or you feel unwell, see a doctor. Please do not start exercises based on these tests without guidance from a physiotherapist who has assessed you; doing so is at your own risk.
Points towards
If your result points to a problem, these condition guides are a good place to start reading.
Reproduced your pain?
A positive result is worth getting looked at. Book a £40 online assessment with an HCPC-registered physiotherapist, wherever you are in the UK.
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