Mill’s test is used to diagnose which condition?

Mill’s test is used to diagnose which condition?

• A. Medial epicondylitis
• B. Carpal tunnel syndrome
• C. Lateral epicondylitis
• D. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

Answer: (C)

Mill's test stretches the wrist extensor tendons at the lateral elbow. By placing the elbow in extension with the forearm pronated and the wrist flexed, this maneuver tensions the common extensor origin at the lateral epicondyle. If there is pathology there, as in lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), this stretch reproduces pain at the lateral epicondyle, supporting that diagnosis. Lateral epicondylitis comes from overuse of the wrist extensors, especially the extensor carpi radialis brevis, leading to tendinopathy at their origin. In contrast, medial epicondylitis involves the inner elbow and its pain pattern, carpal tunnel syndrome presents with median nerve symptoms in the hand, and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis involves the first dorsal compartment tendons near the thumb and is assessed with tests like Finkelstein’s.

Mill's test stretches the wrist extensor tendons at the lateral elbow. By placing the elbow in extension with the forearm pronated and the wrist flexed, this maneuver tensions the common extensor origin at the lateral epicondyle. If there is pathology there, as in lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), this stretch reproduces pain at the lateral epicondyle, supporting that diagnosis. Lateral epicondylitis comes from overuse of the wrist extensors, especially the extensor carpi radialis brevis, leading to tendinopathy at their origin. In contrast, medial epicondylitis involves the inner elbow and its pain pattern, carpal tunnel syndrome presents with median nerve symptoms in the hand, and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis involves the first dorsal compartment tendons near the thumb and is assessed with tests like Finkelstein’s.