Your 40-year-old female patient presents with right elbow pa…
Your 40-year-old female patient presents with right elbow pain that has been gradually worsening over the past 6 weeks. She reports that the pain started after spending several weekends gardening and using hand tools. She describes the pain as a constant dull ache on the outer part of her elbow and occasionally feels a sharp twinge when lifting a heavy object. She denies numbness or tingling in the arm or hand. Ice provides mild relief, while prolonged gripping and lifting aggravate the pain. PMH: Hypertension, controlled with medication. Social history: Works as an office assistant; enjoys gardening on weekends; lives with spouse and two children. Functional limitations: Difficulty lifting grocery bags, opening jars, and using hand tools. She has reduced her gardening activity because of the pain. Which muscles’ performance are most important to test? Why?