Final Flashcards
Lumbar Bony Palpation
Iliac crest
PSIS
Lumbar spinous processes
Sacral tubercles
Lumbar Soft Tissue Palpation
Anterior abdominal muscles Paraspinal muscles (palpate as a unit) - Spinalis - Longissimus - Iliocostalis Gluteus Maximus Gluteus Medius Sciatic Nerve Hamstrings - Biceps femoris - Semitendinosus - Semimembranosus
Lumbar Range of Motion
Flexion 25* Extension 30* Left lateral bending 25* Right lateral bending 25* Left rotation 30* Right rotation 30*
Hoover Sign - Instruction
Pt supine, examiner instructs pt to lift the affected leg while the examiner places one hand under the heel of the non-affected leg (healthy side).
Hoover Sign - Positive/Indicates
P: Lack of counter-pressure on the healthy side.
I: Lack of organic basis for paralysis (Malingering/hysteria). With organic hemiplegia, the patient will still exert downward pressure when attempting to raise paralyzed leg.
Straight Leg Raiser - Instruction
Pt supine, examiner raises pt’s leg slowly to 90 degrees or to the point of pain.
Straight Leg Raiser - Positive/Indicates
P: Radiating pain and/or dull posterior thigh pain.
I: Sciatic radiculopathy or tight hamstrings. Positive between 35-70 degrees would indicate possible discogenic sciatic radiculopathy. Positive of greater than 70 degrees would indicate tight hamstrings.
Goldthwait Sign - Instruction
Pt supine, examiner places the fingers of their superior hand under the interspinous spaces of the pt’s lower lumbar vertebrae. Examiner then raises one of the pt’s extended legs.
Goldthwait Sign - Positive/Indicates
P: Localized pain, low back or radiating pain down the leg.
I: Lumbo-sacral or sacroiliac pathology. Pain occurring after the lumbar spinouses move would indicate possible lumbo-sacral problem. Pain occurring before the lumbars move would indicate possible sacroiliac problem.
Bragard Sign - Instruction
Pt supine, examiner performs a (SLR) on the pt. Examiner lowers the raised leg 5 degrees from the point of pain and fully dorsiflexes pt’s foot.
“During a straight leg raise the patient would feel pain. I would then lower the leg five degrees or until the pain went away. I would then fully dorsiflex the foot….” then go into positive.
Bragard Sign - Positive/Indicates
P: Radiating pain in posterior thigh.
I: Sciatic radiculopathy.
Buckling Sign - Instruction
Pt is supine, examiner performs a SLR on the pt.
See positive/indicates for verbals.
Buckling Sign - Positive/Indicates
P: Pain in the posterior thigh with sudden knee flexion.
I: Sciatic radiculopathy.
“I would be performing a straight leg raise and the patient would experience pain in the posterior thigh with sudden knee flexion (make the pt’s knee flex with non-supporting hand). This would indicate sciatic radiculopathy.
Bowstring Sign - Instruction
Pt is supine, examiner places pt’s leg on their shoulder and first applies pressure to the hamstring muscle if pain is not elicited then apply pressure to the popliteal fossa.
Bowstring Sign - Positive/Indicates
P: Pain in the lumbar region or radiculopathy.
I: Sciatic nerve root compression, helps rule out tight hamstrings.
Lasegue Test - Instruction
Pt supine. Hip and leg bent to 90 degrees. Slowly extend the knee (keeping hip at or close to 90 degrees).
Lasegue Test - Positive/Indicates
P: Reproduction of sciatic pain before 60 degrees.
I: Sciatica.
Milgram Test - Instruction
Pt supine, examiner raises both of pt’s legs 2-3 inches off the table and instructs pt to hold legs off the table for 30 seconds.
Milgram Test - Positive/Indicates
P: Inability to perform test and/or low back pain.
I: Weak abdominal muscles or space occupying lesion.
Valsalva Maneuver - Instruction
Pt seated, examiner instructs pt to take a deep breath and hold while bearing down as if straining during a bowel movement.
Valsalva - Positive/Indicates
P: Radiating pain from site of lesion (usually recreating the complaint in cervical or lumbar area of the spine).
I: Space occupying lesion (e.g. disc pathology).
Bechterew Test - Instruction
Pt seated, examiner instructs pt to extend one knee at a time alternately, then both together.
“Can I have you sit on the bench with your hands in your lap (makes it easier to spot tripod)? Can you raise this leg? Can you raise that leg? Can you raise them both together?”
Bechterew Test - Positive/Indicates
P: Reproduction of radicular pain or inability to perform correctly due to tripod sign.
I: Sciatic radiculopathy.
Neri Bowing Test (Neri Sign) - Instruction
Examiner instructs pt to bend forward from the waist.
Neri Bowing Test (Neri Sign) - Positive/Indicates
P: Pain accompanied by flexion of the knee on the affected side and body rotation away from the affected side.
I: Positive with a variety of low back pathologies. Hamstring tension on the pelvis may trigger the response.
Anterior Innominate Test (Mazion Pelvic Maneuver) (Advancement Sign) - Instruction
The pt is standing. Examiner instructs pt to advance one leg forward approximately 2-3 feet. Pt is then instructed to bend forward from the waist and touch the advanced foot with both hands (advanced knee should be straight).
Anterior Innominate Test (Mazion Pelvic Maneuver) (Advancement Sign) - Positive/Indicates
The inability to bend at the waist more than 45 degrees, because of either/or:
P1: Radiating pain along the sciatic nerve, either unilateral or bilateral.
I1: Sciatic neuralgia or radiculopathy, etc., possibly due to lumbar disc pathology.
P2: Low back pain (lumbar or pelvic regions).
I: Anterior (rotational) displacement of the ilium relative to the sacrum.
Lewin Standing Test - Instruction
Examiner instructs pt to bend forward slightly at the waist with knees slightly flexed. Examiner first brings one knee into complete extension. Next the examiner brings the other knee into complete extension. Finally the examiner brings both knees into complete extension.
Lewin Standing Test - Positive/Indicates
P: Radiating pain down the leg causing flexion of the pt’s knee or knees.
I: Gluteal, lumbosacral or sacroiliac pathologies.
Heel Walk - Instruction
Pt walks on heels.
Heel Walk - Positive/Indicates
P: Inability to perform test.
I: L4-L5 disc lesion (L5 nerve root).
Toe Walk - Instruction
Pt walks on toes.
Toe Walk - Positive/Indicates
P: Inability to perform test.
I: L5-S1 disc lesion (S1 nerve root).
Ely Heel to Buttock Test (Ely Sign) - Instruction
Pt prone, examiner flexes the knee of the pt’s affected leg to 90 degrees. Examiner then approximates the heel of the affected leg to the contralateral buttock and hyperextends the thigh off the table.
Ely Heel to Buttock Test (Ely Sign) - Positive/Indicates
P1: Inability to raise the thigh.
I1: Iliopsoas spasm.
P2: Pain in the anterior thigh.
I2: Inflammation of lumbar nerve roots.
P3: Pain in the lumbar region.
I3: Lumbar nerve root adhesions.
Hip and Pelvis Bony Palpation
Anterior - Iliac crest - ASIS - Iliac tubercle - Greater trochanter Posterior - PSIS - Ischial tuberosity - Coccyx
Hip and Pelvis Soft Tissue Palpation
Femoral triangle borders - Sartorius - Adductor Longus - Inguinal ligament Quadriceps muscles - Vastus Lateralis - Vastus Medialis - Vastus Intermedius - Rectus Femoris Greater trochanteric bursa Gluteus Medius Gluteus Maximus Sciatic nerve Cluneal nerves Hamstrings - Biceps femoris - Semitendinosus - Semimembranosus
Hip and Pelvis Range of Motion
Flexion 120* Extension 30* Abduction 45* Adduction 45* Internal rotation 45* External rotation 45* Flexion and Adduction Flexion, Abduction and External Rotation
Leg Length Discrepancy - Instruction
Pt supine, (True) examiner takes a cloth measuring tape and measures from ipsilateral ASIS to the medial malleolus of the same leg. Examiner then measures from contralateral ASIS to the medial malleolus of the opposite leg. (Apparent) Examiner takes a cloth tape measure and measures from the umbilicus to the medial malleolus of one leg and then measures from the umbilicus to the medial malleolus of the opposite leg.
Leg Length Discrepancy - Positive/Indicates
P: Different measurements
I: true = bony abnormality above or below level of trochanter difference (anatomical short leg)
apparent = pelvic obliquity (tilted pelvis)
Allis Sign (Galeazzi Sign) - Instruction
Pt is supine, examiner instructs pt to place both feet flat (approximate great toes and medial malleoli bilateral) on the bench while flexing both knees to 90 degrees.
Allis Sign (Galeazzi Sign) - Positive/Indicates
P: Difference in height and anteriority of the knees.
I: 1. If one knee is lower = ipsilateral congenital hip dislocation or tibial discrepancy (anatomical short leg)
2. If one knee is anterior = ipsilateral congenital hip dislocation or femoral discrepancy (contralateral anatomical short leg)
Thomas Test - Instruction
Pt supine, examiner instructs pt to approximate each knee one at a time to his/her chest and hold.