HIP AND KNEE SPECIAL TESTS

Question 1

describe the sit and reach test

Answer 1

● Designed to measure the flexibility of
H/S and spinal flexion.
● Remove the client’s shoes and ask
him/her to long-sit on the floor.
● The feet are shoulder width apart and
against the base of a step or any flat
surface.
● Measure in cm or inches how far they can reach beyond the base of the foot.

Question 2

describe trendelenburg test

Answer 2

PSISs should be level in stance
- ask client to raise one leg (i.e left leg) , you are checking the right muscles in this case
- the left PSIS should elevate slightly if the left PSIS drops the right glute med/min is weak

Question 3

what does the trendelenburg test evaluate

Answer 3

the functional strength of the gluteus med/min muslce

Question 4

what is the apparent leg length

Answer 4

umbilicus to the medial mal

Question 5

what is true leg length

Answer 5

GT or ASIS to medial mal

Question 6

describe assessment of the leg lengths

Answer 6

● Ask patient to first perform 3 bridges to level out the pelvis, then distract at the ankles.
● Take a look at level of each medial malleolus, is one higher than the other

Question 7

Leg length will “effectively” increase with:

Answer 7

1. Supination: a) hindfoot varus/inversion,
   b)forefoot varus/inversion c)PF
2. coxa valga
3. anterior rotation of the ilium

Question 8

●Leg length will “effectively” decrease with:

Answer 8

1. Pronation: a) hindfoot valgus/eversion, b)
   forefoot valgus/eversion c) DF
2. coxa vara
3. posterior rotation of the ilium
4. genu varum/valgum

Question 9

what does the Ober’s Test test for

Answer 9

test for TFL and IT band shortness

Question 10

describe the Ober’s Test

Answer 10

● Client in sidelying with the test leg
uppermost.

● Lower leg is flexed for stability

● PT must stabilize the ilium from rotating
or laterally flexing.

● PT passively flexes the hip to 90° and
the knee to 20°, keeps the knee flexed and now abducts and ERs the hip, and then extend the hip which positions the TFL over the greater trochanter

● Slowly adduct the test leg while maintaining hip extension.

Question 11

what is a positive test for Ober’s Test

Answer 11

the femur is unable to adduct (past 0°)

Question 12

what is a negative test for Ober’s Test

Answer 12

the femur is able to Adduct

Question 13

what are 4 compensation to watch for when performing the Ober’s Test

Answer 13

● Lumbar extension
● Lumbar SB
● Hip IR
● Unable to achieve hip ext to neutral

Question 14

what does the Thomas Test test for

Answer 14

proximal LE muscle flexibly of hip flexors

Question 15

describe the Thomas Test

Answer 15

● Client sits at the edge of a plinth and
then asked to lie supine.

● Assist the client to bring the knees to the
chest. Don’t have them pull too much….just until the lumbar spine is flat (not flexed).

● While client is holding the non-test hip and knee in flexion, ask the client to slowly release the test leg.

● If thigh does not reach the table, retest holding the knee in extension (removes
rectus femoris length).

Question 16

what are the normal test results for Thomas Test

Answer 16

hip should extend to level of the table , knee should flex to at least 80°

Question 17

if the hip is flexed and the knee is extended what 2 muscles can be short

Answer 17

iliopsoas and rectus

Question 18

if you retest for the Thomas Test with the knee in extension and the thigh reaches the table what does that mean? if the hip still does not reach what does that mean?

Answer 18

if the thigh reaches the table then the rectus femoris was short
if the hip is still not on the table then the iliopsoas was short

Question 19

if the hip is flexed but the knees flex to 90° in the Thomas test then what muscle is short

Answer 19

iliopsoas (iliacus / psoas major)

Question 20

if the hip is extended but the knee would flex to 90° for the Thomas Test what muscle is short

Answer 20

rectus fem is short

Question 21

if the hip if abducted for the Thomas test then what muscle can we suspect that is short

Answer 21

IT band

Question 22

if the hip is flexed and external rotated for the Thomas Test what muscle can be short

Answer 22

sartorius

Question 23

What hamstrings are being tested for SLR Test for short hamstrings

Answer 23

semitendinosus, semimembranosus and biceps femoris

Question 24

what do you need to watch out for during the SLR Test for short hamstrings

Answer 24

● Posterior pelvic tilt
● Knee flexion
● Hip abduction or ER

Question 25

if you are doing the SLR Test for short hamstrings and the patient has pain reproduction at about 30° of hip flexion what does that indicate

Answer 25

disc pathology

Question 26

if the patient is able to achieve more than 91° of hip flexion during SLR Test from short hamstrings then the pateint may be …

Answer 26

hyper mobile and would benefit from stabilization exercises

Question 27

what is the popliteal angle test testing ?

Answer 27

distal hamstring flexibility test

Question 28

describe the Popliteal Angle Test

Answer 28

● Client is in supine with the test leg in
90° of hip flexion and full / relaxed knee flexion. Assure there is no abduction, adduction or rotation at the hip.
● The non-test leg is in neutral (not flexed)
● PT passively extends the knee to the end of the client’s ROM.

Question 29

what is a positive sign from the Popliteal Angle Test

Answer 29

client is unable to extend the knee
appro. 30° for women and 40° for men
which means there is a distal H/S shortness

Question 30

describe the Ely’s test

Answer 30

Client in prone, passively flex the test
knee past 90°

Question 31

what is a positive sign for the Elys test

Answer 31

short rectus femoris if the ipsilateral hip flexes

Question 32

which test is the same as quadrant test but without over pressure

Answer 32

FADIR (flexion , adduction , IR)

Question 33

what is a positive test for FADIR indicate

Answer 33

may be a labral injury or significant intra articular injury

IF POSITIVE DO NOT PROCEED TO QUADRANT TEST BC IT WILL BE PAINFUL

Question 34

describe the quadrant test (scour test)

Answer 34

● Flex the test hip and knee to 90o, compress the
joint, abduct the hip and rotate it until fully flexed, then return to the start position, compress, adduct and rotate until fully flexed.

Question 35

what does the quadrant test (scour test) assess

Answer 35

degenerative changes in the articular surfaces of the hip

Question 36

what does the quadrant test (scour test) stress

Answer 36

the lateral (with hip adduction) and posterior joint capsule and compresses the articular cartilage

Question 37

what is a positive test for the quadrant test (scour test)

Answer 37

client is apprehensive, pain is reproduced or the PT feels crepitis. Note: may also be positive with a labral tear.

Question 38

describe the patrick or FABER test

Answer 38

Check both legs. Flex, abduct and
externally rotate the leg, at end range, press on the opposite ASIS and distal femur of the test leg.

figure 4

Question 39

what indicates a positive test for the patrick’s test or FABER test

Answer 39

● Positive: Inguinal pain – hip pathology
● Positive: SI pain at end range

Question 40

describe the piriformis flexibility test

Answer 40

● Flex hip to approx. 100° with knee
flexed and maximally ER the hip
● Slowly adduct the patient’s hip, making sure to maintain the hip flexion and ER

Question 41

during the piriformis flexibility test if the patient can no reach midline for adduction what does that mean

Answer 41

short piriformis