Knee Special Tests Flashcards
Anterior Drawer Test
Tests ACL integrity
supine, sit on pts foot with knee flexed at 90, thumbs on tibial plateau, measuring the ant translation of the tibia
Posterior Drawer Test
Tests for PCL integrity
Pt supine, knee flexed to 90, sit on pts foot to stabilize. push back on tibia with thenar eminence to measure post translation
Posterior Sag Test
Tests PCL integrity
supine, hips and knees at 90, withdraw support from tibia and observe position of tibia relative to the femur
Valgus Stress Test
Tests PCL, MCL, and Posteromedial capsule
knee and hip in slight flex - give valgus (lat -> med) force to knee, then again in ext
support tibia, hand on the lat knee giving force
in flex - MCL
in ext - PCL, MCL, capsule
Varus Stress Test
Tests LCL, PCL, and arcuate complex
supine, slight knee flex, stabilize ankle, give force to med knee, in a med -> lat direction. repeat with knee in ext
in flex - LCL
in ext - LCL, PCL, arcuate complex
McMurrays - Medial Meniscus
tests med meniscus
bring into full flex, then ER. with hand on knee, give a valgus force (lat -> med) holding the force, bring into ext
McMurrays (Lateral Meniscus)
bring pt into flex then IR, then with hand on knee give a varus force (med -> lat) and bring back down into ext
Apley’s Compression Test
Tests the lat and med meniscus
prone, knee flexed to 90. give compression through the calcaneus while rotating tibia
IR - tests lat meniscus
ER - tests med meniscus
Patella Apprehension Test
Tests patella subluxation/dislocation
supine, knees fully ext. pt lies COMPLETELY RELAXED, move the patella laterally
apprehension or contraction of quads - protect against subluxation
Patella Grind Test
Tests for Chondromalacia Patella
supine, both knees ext, web space of thumb on the superior border of patella. give downward and inf force while the pt contracts their quads. look for pain/grinding
Lachmans Test
Tests for ACL integrity
supine, knee flexed ~30 deg.
rock tibia ant, femur post
ACL stops the ant translation
