Tennis elbow simulation

The main focus is how to assess peripheral and central sensitization using a series of clinical tests that are commonly adapted from a neurological examination. The approach emphasizes selecting only the tests that are relevant for the individual patient and performing them from least provocative to most provocative. Key measures include brushstroke allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia with Von Frey filaments or pinprick, temporal summation through repeated stimulation, pressure pain sensitivity with a pressure algometer, and cold hyperalgesia using ice. A unilateral tennis elbow example shows how to compare the painful side with the unaffected side, and when needed, check a more remote site such as tibialis anterior to explore possible widespread sensitivity. The demonstration also explains how to identify the maximal pain site, standardize testing methods, and interpret responses. In this example, findings suggest localized mechanical hyperalgesia on the affected side, with no allodynia, no temporal summation, and no cold hyperalgesia, making widespread central sensitization less likely.