LE Special Tests Flashcards
Ely’s Test
Pt prone while PT passively flexes knee
+= spontaneous hip flexion with knee flexion, may indicate rectus femoris contracture
Ober’s Test
Pt sidling with lower leg flexed at the hip and knee
PT moves leg into extension and abduction and then slowly lowers leg
+= inability of leg to adduct and touch table, may indicate TFL contracture
Piriformis Test
Pt sidelying with test leg toward ceiling and hip flexed to 60 deg
PT has one hand on pt pelvis and other on pt knee while giving downward force on knee
+= pain or tightness, may indicate performs tightness or compression of sciatic nerve
Thomas Test
Pt supine with legs fully extended
Pt bring one knee to chest in order to flatten lumbar spine
PT looks at contralateral hip
+= SLR from table, may indicate hip flexion contracture
Tripod sign
Pt sitting with knees flexed to 90 deg over edge of table
PT passively extends one knee
+= tightness in the hamstrings or extension of the trunk in order to limit the effect of tight hamstrings
90-90 SLR Test
Pt supine and brings hip to 90 deg of flexion and attempts to extend each knee
+= knee remaining in 20 deg or more of flexion, indicates hamstring tightness
Barlow’s Test
Pt supine with hips flexed to 90 deg and knees flexed
PT stabilizes femur and pelvis with one hands while the other hand takes leg into adduction with forward pressure posterior to greater trochanter
+= click or clunk, may indicate a hip dislocation being reduced
Ortolani’s Test
Pt supine with hips flexed to 90 deg and knees flexed
PT grabs legs so thumb is at medial thigh and fingers at lateral thigh
PT abducts hip and gentle pressure applied at greater trochanter until resistance at around 30 deg
+= click or clunk, may indicate a hip dislocation being reduced
Craig’s Test
Pt prone with knee flexed to 90 deg
PT palpates posterior aspect of greater trochanter and aligns it so // with table
Normal ante version for an adult is 8-15 deg
Patricks’s/ FABER Test
Pt supine with leg flexed, abducted, and laterally rotated at hip on opposite leg
PT slowly lowers leg through abduction toward table
+= failure of test leg to abduct below level of opposite leg, may indicate iliopsoas, sacroiliac, or hip joint abnormalities
Quadrant scouring Test
Pt supine while PT passively flexes and adducts hip into maximal flexion
PT applies compressive force through femur while passively moving pt hip
+= grinding, catching, or crepitation in hip, may indicate pathologies such as atrhritis, avascular necrosis, or osteochondral defect
Trendelenburg Test
Pt stands on one leg for around 10s
+= drop of pelvis on unsupported side. may indicate weakness of gluteus medium on supported side
Anterior drawer Test
Pt supine with knee flexed to 90 deg and hip to 45 deg
PT sits on pt forefoot and grabs proximal tibia with their thumbs on tibial plateau and applies anterior force to tibia on femur
+= excessive anterior translation of tibia on femur with diminished or absent end point, may indicate ACL injury
Lachman Test
Pt supine with knee flexed to 20-30 deg
PT stabilizes distal femur with one hand and other on proximal tibia and applies anterior force to tibia on femur
+= excessive anterior translation of tibia on femur with diminished or absent end point, may indicate ACL injury
Lateral pivot shift Test
Pt supine with hip flexed and abducted to 30 deg with slight medial rotation
PT grabs leg with one and other on lateral surface of proximal tibia
PT medially rotates tibia and applies valgus force to knee while knee is slowly flexed
+= palpable shift or clunk occurring b/w 20 and 40 deg of flexion, indicates anterolateral rotatory instability
