1. As always, wash your hands, explain the procedure to the patient and gain informed consent.

2. As with all examinations, this should start with observation. Look at the front to check the carrying angle, from the side to check for a fixed flexion deformity, and from behind and on the inside to check for scars, swellings, rashes, rheumatoid nodules and psoriatic plaques.

3. Next you should feel the elbow, assessing the joint temperature relative to the rest of the arm. Palpate the olecranon process as well as the lateral and medial epicondyles for tenderness.

4. The movements at the elbow joint are all fairly easy to describe and assess. These are flexion, extension, pronation and supination. Once these have been assessed actively they should be checked passively checking for crepitus.

5. Finally you should check for tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. Tennis elbow localises pain over the lateral epicondyle, particularly on active extension of the wrist with the elbow bent. Golfer's elbow pain localises over the medial epicondyle and is made worse by flexing the wrist. Check each of these individually to eliminate them.

6. Thank the patient and wash your hands.

© Matthew Green and Laura Henderson 2006.