Lower Extremity Tests

Question 1

Leg length Supine

Answer 1

Pt supine.
reseat the pelvis.
thumbs inferior to medial malleoli
compare lengths bilaterally.

Question 2

Patrick (FABERE) Test

Answer 2

HIP test
pt supine, ph same side
figure 4 with ciudad on knee and cephelad on opposite ASIS
Pain seen with:
Osteoarthritis, Iliopsoas Spasm, and Sacroiliac dysfunction

Question 3

FADIR Test

Answer 3

HIP test
Flexion, adduction, internal rotation
pt supine and ph on same side
Knee and hip at 90
Cephlad puses knee across midline while caudad holds ankle in-line
This maneuver tests for (FAI) Femoroacetabular Impingement
• PossibleLabralTear
• EarlyOA
• Pain seen with prolonged sitting, getting out of car, squatting

Question 4

Thomas Test

Answer 4

HIP test
Pt supine and actively pulls one knee to chest.
tests leg on table for contracture of iliopsoas
+ if leg raises off table

Question 5

Ober Test

Answer 5

HIP test
pt lateral recumbent with leg to be tested towards ceiling.
ph behind pt
extend hip with knee flexed and abduct, if knee doesn’t adduct to midline then +
tests for contracture of iliotibial band or tensor fascia lata

Question 6

Trendelenburg Test

Answer 6

HIP test
pt stands on one leg, if hip of raised led falls below level then is +
tests for weakened gluteus medius

Question 7

Knee ROM

Answer 7

Flexion - 145°
extension - 10°
IR - 10°
ER - 40°

Question 8

Patella Grind Test

Answer 8

Knee Test
pt supine, apply A-P pressure to patella and rock across condyles
Pain or grinding indicate Chondromalacia patellae

Question 9

Apley’s compression and distraction

Answer 9

Knee Test
pt supine and ph on same side
push or pull foot and rotate
pain is +
meniscus with compression
ligamentous with distraction

Question 10

McMurry

Answer 10

Knee Test
pt supine with knee towards ceiling
hold knee with cephalad hand and ankle with caudad
slightly flex leg
ankle IR, ADD, E for lateral miniscus
ankle ER, AB, E for medial miniscus 
click and pain or pain +

Question 11

Knee Joint palpation

Answer 11

Knee Test

palpate joint line medial and lateral for meniscal protrusion

Question 12

Anterior drawer test

Answer 12

Knee Test
knee at 90° try to displace proximal tibia anteriorly
check for laxity of ACL

Question 13

Posterior Drawer Test (godfrey’s)

Answer 13

Knee Test
knee at 90° try to displace proximal tibia posterior
Check for laxity of PCL
dashboard injury, watch for drop back phenomenon

Question 14

Lachman Test

Answer 14

Knee Test
knee at 20-30°
stabilize ankle and try to displace proximal tibia anteriorly
preferred position for ACL test

Question 15

Valgus/Varus test

Answer 15

Knee Test
• Tests Medial and Lateral Collateral Ligaments
• Pt supine, knee flexed to 15 degrees
• Stabilize the distal tibia with one hand and stresses with medial and lateral forces with the other
• Positive test = gapping (maybe pain) felt on either side of knee joint
*Note cephalad hand position – must be distal to the Femoro-Tibial joint….if not your cephalad hand will prevent varus/valgus motion at the knee

Question 16

Bulge test

Answer 16

Knee Test
With the cephalad hand superior to the patella,
compress the tissues (and possibly fluid) inferiorly towards the knee joint.

Question 17

Ballotment Test

Answer 17

Knee Test
Apply downward (A to P force) compression to the patella. In the normal knee with minimal joint fluid,
the patella moves directly onto the femoral condyle.
In the knee with an effusion (moderate to large) the patella is floating, and ballottement results in the patella tapping against the femoral condyle; this is noted in the fingertips

Question 18

Ankle ROM

Answer 18

plantar flexion 20-50
dorsiflexion 0-20
inversion/supination 0-35
eversion/ronation 0-25

Question 19

Ankle drawer test

Answer 19

Anterior talofibular ligament
-slight plantarflexion of ankle
• Cephalad hand is stabilizing the lower leg
• Caudad hand is translating the foot forward from the calcaneus
• Translation > 8 mm is (+) result
Anterior drawer only, no posterior

Question 20

Thompson Test

Answer 20

• Optimallyperformedw/pt in PRONE position and knee flexed to 90 degrees
• If Achilles Tendon is ruptured and the calf muscle mass is squeezed…
There will be NO PLANTARFLEXION NOTED

Question 21

Morton’s Squeeze Test

Answer 21

• Pressure is applied across the metatarsals of the affected foot in an effort to impinge the neuroma
• PainorReproductionofsx is a positive test

for Morton’s Neuroma
• Typically found between 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads
• Chronic trauma/stress leading to nerve irritation
• Histologically demonstrates perineural fibrosis
• Pain/Burning Sensation, may feel like “a rock” in my shoe
• Dx: Morton’s (Lateral) Squeeze Test – grasp medial and lateral forefoot and squeeze together…sx are reproduced
• Morton’s Neuroma – surgical dissection