Test your knowledge: Kaltenborn rule in elbow.
Question:
When we use mobilization techniques to restore normal mobility of the joint when it is injured or hypomobile, we reason according to the convex-concave rule developed by Kaltenborn: anterior spinning is always accompanied with posterior gliding.
You can imagine this as a ball in a horizontal plane - when the ball moves/ spins to the left or right, it always leaves its place. When this would happen to our humeral head it would always dislocate, meaning that there has to be an accompanied glide to the opposite site of the spin. But is this always right?
Think about the pronation-supination-movement of the forearm in the radioulnar joint. When supinating the forearm, the caput radii spins to posterior. Does the caput radii make an accompanied posterior or anterior glide this supination movement of the forearm? Test yourself!
See the answer of this question below the image!
Answer:
The supination motion of the radial head on the ulnar surface consists of a posterior spinning with posterior gliding which contrasts with the concave–convex rule as used in physiotherapy and manual therapy mobilizations. Also there is a posterior gliding of the caput radii on the ulna with pronation. As such, the findings have major therapeutic implications for your mobilization techniques. Is it possible that there are other synovial joints that do not move according to Kaltenborn’s rule? When using mobilization techniques based on the convex-concave-rule, handle with care!
