lower extremity lab tests Flashcards
lumbar spine bony palpation
lumbar spine bony palpation
lumbar spinous processes (count out loud
sacral tubercles
iliac crest
posterior superior iliac spine
lumbar spine soft tissue palpation
lumbar spine soft tissue palpation
supine:
anterior abdominal muscles - half sit-up, palpate, pt. relax, quickly palpate
- instruct pt. to turn over
prone: paraspinal muslces - as unit - spinalis (spine - medial) - longissiums (middle) - iliocostalis (lateral) sciatic nerve gluteus maximus gluteus medius hamstrings - as unit - biceps femoris - lateral - semitendinosus - middle - semimembranosis - medial
straight leg raiser (SLR)
straight leg raiser (SLR)
+ radiating pain and/or dull posterior thigh pain indicates sciatic radiculopathy or tight hamstrings. + b/w 35-70 degrees indicates possible discogenic sciatic radiculopathy. + greater than 70 degrees indicates tight hamstrings
goldthwait sign (3 fingers)
goldthwait sign (3 fingers)
ask pt. to raise shirt to bottom of ribs
- contact lower back
+ localized pain, low back, or radiating pain down the leg indicates lumbo-sacral or sacroiliac pathology. pain occuring before the lumbars move is possible sacroiliac problem. pain occuring after the lumbar spinouses move is possible lumbo-sacral problem.
bragard sign
bragard sign
perform SLR
pt. feels pain
lower leg 5 degrees or until pain subside
dorsiflex foot
+ radiating pain in posterior thigh indicates sciatic radiculopathy
buckling sign
buckling sign
pt. supine
perform SLR
show buckle
+ pain in the posterior thigh with sudden knee flexion (buckle) indicates sciatic radiculopathy
bowstring sign
bowstring sign
pt. supine
ex. places pt.’s leg on shoulder
palpate
- muscle belly
- tendons
- popliteal fossa
+ pain in the lumbar region or radiculopathy indicates sciatic nerve root compression, helps rule out tight hamstrings
lasegue test
lasegue test
pt. supine
hip and leg bent to 90 degrees
slowly extend knee
+ reproduction of sciatic pain before 60 degrees indicates sciatica
milgram test
milgram test
pt. supine
ex. raises both legs 2-3”
instructs pt. to hold in place
30 sec or until point of pain
+ inability to perform test and/or low back pain indicates weak abdominal muscles or space occupying lesion
valsalva maneuver
valsalva maneuver
- instruct pt. to take deep breath
- hold
bear down as if you’re having a difficult bowel mvmt
+ radiating pain from site of lesion (usually recreating the complaints in cervical or lumbar area of the spine) indicates space occupying lesion (e.g. disc pathology)
bechterew test
bechterew test
- pt. seated
- ex. instructs pt. extend one knee @/time, then both together
- show positive
+ reproduction of radicular pain or inability to perform correctly due to tripod sign indicates sciatic radiculopathy
neri bowing test / sign
neri bowing test / sign
- instruct pt. to bend fwd @ waist
- stand by pt. spotting them
+ pain accompanied by flexion of the knee on the affected side and body rotation away from the affected side indicates positive with a variety of low back pathologies. hamstring tension on the pelvis may trigger the response.
anterior innominate test aka mazion pelvic maneuver (advancement sign)
- pt. standing
- instruct pt. to advance 1 leg/time
- then to bend over - advanced knee straight
+ the inability to bend at the waist more than 45 degrees due to either/or radiating pain along the sciatic nerve, either unilateral or bilateral indicates sciatic neuralgia or radiculopathy, etc, possibly due to lumbar disc pathology
+ low back pain (lumbar or pelvic regions) indicates anterior (rotational) displacement of the ilium relative to the sacrum
lewin standing test
lewin standing test
- ex. instructs pt. to get in skiing position
- ex. pushes one knee into complete extension, the other, then both while in position
+ radiating pain down the leg causing flexion of the patient’s knee or knees indicating gluteal, lumbosacral, or sacroiliac pathologies
heel walk
heel walk
- instruct pt. to take 6 steps
(3 full gaits) on their heels
+inability to perform test indicates L4/L5 disc lesion
(L5 nerve root)
toe walk
toe walk
- instruct pt. to take 6 steps
(3 full gaits) on their toes
+ inability to perform test indicates L5-S1 disc lesion
(SI nerve root)
ely heel to buttock test
evans - aka ely sign
ely heel to buttock test
(evans - aka ely sign)
- pt. prone
- ex. flexes knee to 90
- ex. approximates heel to contralateral buttock
- ex. hyperextends thigh off table
+ inability to raise thigh indicates iliopsoas spasm
+ pain in the anterior thigh indicates inflammation of lumbar nerve roots
+ pain in the lumbar region indicates lumbar nerve root adhesions
trendelenburg test
trendelenburg test
- pt. stands on involved foot
- observe level of hips
+high iliac crest on supported side & low crest on side of elevated leg indicates weak gluteus medius muslce on the supported side
knee bony palpation
knee bony palpation
1) patella
2) medial tibial plateau
3) medial femoral condyle
4) lateral tibial plateau
5) lateral femoral condyle
6) tibial tuberosity
7) fibula head
knee soft tissue palpation
knee soft tissue palpation
quadriceps muscles
1) vastus medialis - medial
2) rectus femoris - center
3) vastus intermedius - deep center
4) vastus lateralis - push on IT band
5) prepatellar bursa - patella
6) infrapatellar tendon - superficial (above and below patella)
7) superficial infrapatellar bursa
8) medial meniscus
9) medial collateral ligament
10) pes anserine area
- sartorius
- gracilis
- semitendinosus
10) lateral meniscus
11) lateral collateral ligament
12) gastrocnemius muscle
mcmurray sign
mcmurray sign
pt. supine
- flex pt’s affected hip to 90 degrees and affected knee to 90 degrees
- internal / varus
- external / valgus
+ clicking sound, or pain by knee joint indicates tear of medial meniscus if positive on external rotation. tear of lateral meniscus if positive on internal rotation. the higher the leg is raised during extension when positive is elicited, the more posterior the meniscal injury
medial collateral ligament test aka: ‘aBduction stress test’ aka ‘valGus stress test’
medial collateral ligament test aka: ‘aBduction stress test’ aka ‘valGus stress test’
pt. supine
stablize lateral thigh of pt’s affected leg
gradually pushes laterally
(to open medial side of joint)
+ gapping and/or elicited pain above/at/or below joint line indicates tear and/or instability of the medial collateral ligament