Hip

Question 1

Prone

Passively flex knee

Answer 1

Ely’s Test

Rectus femoris tightness or contracture

Spontaneous hip flexion occurring simultaneously with knee flexion

Question 2

Side lying with lower leg flexed at hip and knee

Move test leg into hip extension and abduction; lower test leg towards table

Answer 2

Ober’s Test

Tensor fasciae latae tightness or contracture

Inability of test leg to adduct and touch the table

Question 3

Supine with hips flexed to 90° and knees flexed

Stabilize femur and pelvis and move test leg into abduction while applying forward pressure posterior to greater trochanter

Click or clunk

Answer 3

Barlows Test (pediatric)

Hip dislocation

Question 4

Prone with test knee flexed

Palpate posterior aspect of greater trochanter, then medially and laterally rotate hip until it is parallel with table

Answer 4

Craig’s Test

Femoral anteversion

Angle is greater than 8-15°

Question 5

Supine with test leg flexed, abducted and laterally rotated onto opposite leg

Slowly lower leg through abduction toward the table

Answer 5

Faber Test

Iliopsoas, SI or hip joint abnormal

Failure of test leg to abduct below level of opposite leg

Question 6

Supine

Perform a straight leg raising test. If there is limitation, flex knee to see if more hip flexion can be obtained

Answer 6

Sign of the Buttock

Ischial bursitis , Neoplasm, Abscess in the buttock or hip

No increase in hip flexion means a lesion in buttock or hip

Question 7

Supine

Flex one of the hips by bringing knee to chest. The patient holds the flexed hip against chest

Answer 7

Thomas Test

Tightness of hip flexors

Patient’s straight leg rises off the table and a muscle stretch end feel will be felt

Question 8

Side-lying

Test leg is on top. Patient flexes test hip to 60° with the knee flexed. Stabilize hip and apply a downward pressure to the knee

Answer 8

Piriformis Test

Piriformis syndrome

Pain is produced in the muscle if tight. If pinching the sciatic nerve, pain is felt in the buttock and sciatica

Question 9

Supine

Flex both hips to 90° with knees bent. Patient grasps behind the knees with both hands to stabilize the hips, then extends each knee in turn as much as possible

Answer 9

90-90 Straight Leg Raising Test

Tightness of hamstrings

The angle is less than 125° between one line along the shaft of the femur and one line along the line of the tibia, or knee is unable to reach 10° from neutral position

Question 10

Supine

Flex the hips and grasp the legs.
With gentle traction, abduct the thighs and apply pressure against the greater trochanters

Answer 10

Ortolani’s Sign

Dislocated or lax hip

Feel a click, clunk, or jerk

Question 11

Supine

Set the pelvis square, level, or in balance with the lower limbs.
Legs should be 4-8 inches apart and parallel to each other.
Measure from the ASIS to the lateral or medial malleolus

Answer 11

True Leg Length

Determines whether the limb discrepancy is true or functional.

An increased difference in leg length of greater than 1-1.5 cm

Question 12

Supine

Hip is 90° of flexion and knee is maximally flexed. Place a compressive load into the femur via the knee joint

Answer 12

Grind Test

DJD of the hip joint

Reproduction hip joint pain and referred pain to the knee

Question 13

Standing

Stand on one lower limb and flex opposite knee.

Answer 13

Trendelenburg Sign

Weak gluteus medius, Unstable hip

Pelvis on nonstance side drops when standing on the affected leg