Salt Test | Lateral Elbow Pain

Execution:

1. Patient is in sitting or standing position
2. The examiner supports the arm of the patient with the elbow in a flexed position
3. The examiner palpates the anterolateral aspect of the radial head
4. The thumb is then slid over the radial head while the forearm is supinated passively
5. The muscles are pushed away by keeping close contact with the radial head

 

Positive Outcome: Pain arises when supinating the arm

Study	Reliability	Sn	Sp	LR+	LR-
Arrigoni et al. (2017): Laxity	NA	80	20	1	1
Arrigoni et al. (2017): Intra-articular findings	NA	87.5	50	1.75	0.25
Comment: These numbers come from an orthopedic setting with a high prevalence of such findings. This means the numbers appear more promising compared to a first-line clinical setting.