Athletic Training Practice Exam

Which movement is typically used to assess the integrity of the radial nerve?

1. Elbow flexion

2. Wrist extension

3. Forearm supination

4. Shoulder flexion

The correct answer is: Wrist extension

Wrist extension is commonly used to assess the integrity of the radial nerve because it is closely associated with the nerve's role in motor function. The radial nerve innervates the muscles responsible for extending the wrist and fingers. When a clinician asks the patient to extend their wrist, they are evaluating the functionality of these muscles and, by extension, the health of the radial nerve itself. In cases of radial nerve injury or dysfunction, the individual may exhibit difficulty performing this movement, often resulting in a characteristic wrist drop, where the wrist cannot be extended properly. This makes wrist extension a key movement for evaluating the integrity of the radial nerve. Elbow flexion primarily tests the musculocutaneous nerve and not the radial nerve, while forearm supination assesses the integrity of both the musculocutaneous nerve and the radial nerve, but is less specific for radial nerve function. Shoulder flexion involves other nerves altogether and is therefore not relevant for assessing the radial nerve directly.