The Elbow Flexion Test measures how far the elbow bends. It can be assessed actively or passively using a goniometer, inclinometer or consistent ROM workflow. The result helps compare sides, monitor symptoms and add context to pressing, pulling, gripping, throwing, upper-limb strength and daily function.
A client may report difficulty bending the elbow fully, reaching the hand toward the face, pulling, pressing, gripping or performing upper-body exercises. Another client may show one elbow moving less than the other during strength testing or sport-specific tasks.
The Elbow Flexion Test gives a simple way to quantify elbow bending in degrees. It should be measured with consistent landmarks, forearm position and symptom recording so changes over time are meaningful.
Test name: Elbow Flexion Test
Purpose: Measure elbow flexion range of motion
Movement: Bending the elbow
Joint/body region: Elbow
Plane: Sagittal plane
ROM type: Active ROM, passive ROM or both
Score: Degrees of elbow flexion
Equipment: Goniometer, inclinometer or Measurz ROM workflow
Best used with: Elbow extension, forearm pronation/supination, wrist ROM, grip strength, pushing, pulling and throwing assessments
Key limitation: Forearm position, shoulder position and soft tissue approximation can affect the result
The Elbow Flexion Test measures how far the elbow bends. It may be performed in sitting, standing or supine, with the shoulder in a standardised position.
Forearm position should be recorded because supination, pronation or neutral forearm position may affect comfort, landmarks and movement quality.
The test is used to quantify elbow flexion, compare sides and monitor change over time.
It may help inform:
Upper-limb mobility monitoring
Pressing and pulling movement assessment
Grip and forearm function context
Throwing or racquet sport assessment
Pain and symptom tracking
Progress across sessions
The test measures elbow flexion ROM in degrees.
It may be influenced by:
Humeroulnar and humeroradial movement
Soft tissue approximation
Forearm position
Shoulder position
Pain or symptoms
Swelling or stiffness
Client effort
Measurement device
Professional landmarking
It does not explain the cause of reduced motion by itself.
Active elbow flexion measures how far the client can bend the elbow using their own muscle control.
Passive elbow flexion measures available movement when the professional guides the forearm.
Active and passive values should be recorded separately because they may differ due to pain, strength, control, symptoms or available range.
This test may be useful for gym clients, throwers, racquet sport athletes, manual workers, older adults and anyone where elbow movement affects training, work or daily function.
Goniometer or inclinometer
Chair, treatment table or standing space
Pain scale
Measurz for recording ROM, pain and symptoms
Optional towel support
Optional comparison side notes
Choose sitting, standing or supine and record the position.
Position the shoulder and forearm consistently. Commonly, the arm is by the side with the forearm supinated or neutral.
Stand beside the tested arm with clear access to elbow landmarks.
Start with the elbow extended or in the agreed starting position.
Stabilise the upper arm and avoid shoulder flexion, shoulder rotation or trunk compensation.
For active ROM, ask the client to bend the elbow as far as comfortably possible.
For passive ROM, gently guide the elbow into flexion until the first firm endpoint, symptom limit or compensation threshold.
For goniometry, commonly align the axis over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, stationary arm along the lateral midline of the humerus toward the acromion and moving arm along the lateral radius toward the radial styloid.
If using an inclinometer, place it consistently on the forearm or selected segment and record placement.
Ask about pain, pressure, stiffness, pulling, pinching, symptom location and whether symptoms are familiar.
Stop if pain increases sharply, symptoms spread, the client guards or movement is not tolerated.
Record active/passive method, side, degrees, pain score, symptom location, forearm position, shoulder position, device used and compensation.
One to three trials may be used. Record best, average or selected trial consistently.
Use the same body position, shoulder position, forearm position, device, landmarks and endpoint each session.
The score is recorded in degrees.
A higher value means more elbow flexion under the tested setup. A lower value means less elbow flexion compared with baseline, the other side or related upper-limb findings.
Interpretation is stronger when paired with pain score, symptom location, active/passive comparison, elbow extension, forearm rotation, wrist movement, grip strength, pushing, pulling or sport-specific findings.
The result does not explain the cause of reduced or painful elbow flexion by itself.
A systematic review on adult elbow goniometry found the universal goniometer is a simple tool, but reliability and validity depend on study quality, examiner consistency and measurement procedure.
A 2025 systematic review on smartphone sensor and photography methods for hand and upper-extremity ROM found many studies reported good-to-excellent reliability or validity, supporting smartphone methods as promising when the protocol is standardised.
Common errors include poor landmarking, changing forearm position, allowing shoulder movement, inconsistent device placement, forcing passive range, not recording symptoms and comparing active/passive values without labelling them.
Limitations include soft tissue approximation, swelling, pain, guarding, device variation, shoulder position and measurement error.
Use elbow flexion ROM to monitor elbow movement, compare sides and add context to pushing, pulling, gripping, throwing, lifting and upper-limb strength assessments.
In Measurz, record baseline elbow flexion ROM in degrees using the goniometer, inclinometer or chosen device. Note active or passive method, side tested, pain score, symptom location, forearm position, shoulder position, test position, device used and compensation.
Track progress across sessions and add related elbow extension, pronation, supination, wrist ROM, grip strength, push-up, bench press, pulling or throwing findings.
Elbow Extension Test
Elbow Pronation Test
Elbow Supination Test
Wrist Flexion Test
Wrist Extension Test
Grip Strength Test
Push-Up Test
Bench Press Test
It measures how far the elbow bends.
Both can be useful. Active ROM reflects controlled movement, while passive ROM reflects available range when guided.
Forearm position can affect comfort, landmarks and movement quality, so it should be recorded.
Record side, degrees, active/passive method, pain, symptoms, forearm position and compensation.
Use the same position, device, landmarks, forearm position and endpoint each session.
Elbow flexion ROM measures elbow bending.
Active and passive results should be recorded separately.
Forearm and shoulder position should be standardised.
Measurz should capture degrees, side, pain, method, position and compensation.
Chapleau, J., Canet, F., Petit, Y., Laflamme, G. Y., & Rouleau, D. M. (2018). The reliability and validity of goniometric elbow measurements in adults: A systematic review of the literature. Shoulder & Elbow, 11(4), 274–284.
Clarkson, H. M. (2020). Musculoskeletal assessment: Joint range of motion, muscle testing, and function (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Shafiee, E., Milani Zadeh, S., MacDermid, J. C., Langohr, G. D., Johnson, J., & Lu, S. (2025). Reliability and validity of using smartphone sensor and photography to measure hand and upper extremity joint range of motion: A systematic review. Journal of Hand Therapy. Needs verification.
