​​​Introduction:

The radiohumeral joint is an condylar type.

Rules:​

The concave surface is the shallow concave side of the radial head.​​

The covexe surface is the humeral condyle.

The flexion-extension follows the concave rules.

The treatment plane is on concave side of the radial's head.​

 

Traction of the radio humeral joint:

Patient:is lying in supine, posterior part of the arm on the bench.

Physiotherapist: is standing in front of the affected arm, backward to the bench.​

The craneal hand grabs the distal end of the humerus against the bench from the anterior side.  The caudal hand grabs the distal end of the radius, not the ulna. The movement is a distal traction perpendicular to the treatment plane.

This technique is used to treat hypomobility and pain, to increase elbow flexion and extension, to increase elbow valgus, to increase forearm pronation/supination and to correct a distal fail in the position of the radius respect to the humerus.

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Compression of the radio-humeral joint:

​Patient: is lying on the affected side, posterior side of the arm and olecranon on the bench, semiflexed elbow.​

The physiotherapist: is standing in the affected side.

The craneal hand maintains the distal end of the patient forearm from its radial side, tenar eminence in contact with patient's hand.

This technique is used to increase elbow flexion and extension, increase elbow varus, increase the forearm pronation/supination and to correct a distal fail in the position of the radius respect to the humerus.​

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Ventral gliding (with a ventral gliding radioulnar):​​

​Patient: is in lying position (decubitus supine), on the affected side, the posterior side of the arm and olecranon on the bench.​

The physiotherapist: is standing in the affected side.

The ulnar hand fixes the distal side of the humerus against the bench. The radial hand grabs the proximal end of the patient's radius. The other hand grabs around the head of the radius with the thumb and fingers supporting the movement: ventral gliding on the proximal end of the radius.

This technique is used to increase elbow flexion and the forearm pronation.

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Dorsal gliding (with a dorsal gliding radioulnar):​​

The patient: is in decubitus supine or sitting position. The posterior side of the arm and olecranon lying on the bench. ​

The physioterapist: is standing in the affected side.

The ulnar hand fixes the distal side of the humerus against the bench. The radial hand maintains the proximal end of the patient's radius. The other hand grips around the head of the radius with the thumb and fingers supporting the eminence.​

This technique is used to increase the elbow extension and the forearm pronation.

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