Knee Special Tests

Question 1

Valgus stress test

Answer 1

MCL

Left hand on outside of femur, hand on inside of tibia and perform a valgus movement
Reproduction of pain or laxity.

Question 2

Mcmurray Test

Answer 2

Meniscus damage.

For medial meniscus internally rotate the tibia, for lateral meniscus externally rotate the tibia. Bring knee into flexion and extension with patient I’m supine. Looking for clicking locking or pain in knee

Question 3

Varus Stress Test

Answer 3

LCL test

Hand on inside of femur, other hand on outside of tib. Perform varus movement on knee.

Question 4

Anterior draw test

Answer 4

ACL draw to check for rupture. Knee bent, hands on tibial tuberosity, grip behind knee, and draw knee forward. Positive of there is increased laxity

Question 5

Appleys test

Answer 5

Meniscus damage. Patient lying prone, knee into 90 degrees flexion. Place your knee into hamstring, place hands on ankle, and distract knee. Rotate knee, and repeat process with compression. Pain with distraction is more ligament based, pain with compression is more meniscus

Question 6

Clarke’s sign

Answer 6

Patella femoral dysfunction
But the web space of your hand over knee, while patient lies flat on back. Ask patient to extend knee, while you apply downward pressure. If patient feels pain or cannot complete test, this is indicative of patella femoral dysfunction.

Question 7

Pivot shift test

Answer 7

Acl tear

Patient lying on back. Internally rotate. Valgus Force. Bring knee into flexion, and back to extension a few times. Test is positive if patient complains of clunking, and a feeling of giving way.

Question 8

Posterior sag sign

Answer 8

PCL tear

Patient lying on back. Hip into 45 degree flexion, knee into 90. If tibia drops and forms concave shape, then this test is positive.

Question 9

Thessaly Test

Answer 9

Meniscus tear/Lesion

Patient standing on effected knee, slightly flexed. Hold their arms, and ask them to rotate on their tibia 3 times. Positive test if there is pain

Question 10

Eges Test

Answer 10

Meniscus Tear

Patient standing with back against wall for support. For medial tear, ask patient to squat with both legs in maximal external rotation. For lateral tear, ask patient to squat with maximal internal rotation. Pain or clicking during the test is a positive test.

Question 11

Patellar tap test

Answer 11

Indicates swelling in the knee joint.

Patient in supine lying with fully extended leg. Stroek downards until you reach 2-3 cm away from top of patella, then press downwards towards knee. Then get other hand below the knee, and push up towards knee from the base off patella. With top hand, whilst applying downward pressure, tap the patella in the centre. If the patella feels like it is floating, then this is indicative of patella swelling.