Musculoskeletal tests

Question 1

while feeling radial pulse, move arm back, turn head toward arm

Answer 1

Adson test

to test for occlusion of subclavian artery

Question 2

measure from ASIS to medial malleolus

Answer 2

True leg length

Question 3

to determine if meniscus is torn - patient supine

Answer 3

McMurray test

Question 4

look from side at knee heights

Answer 4

Femur length discrepancy

Question 5

bend forward; observe for asymmetry of ribs or spine (e.g. scoliosis)

Answer 5

Adams test

Question 6

put your hands under heels and ask them to raise one leg - feel heel pressure

Answer 6

Hoover test

test for faking

Question 7

patient lying supine, puts one foot on knee; you push on opposite ASIS and knee

Answer 7

Patrick or Fabere test

Question 8

to test medial and lateral collateral ligaments

Answer 8

valgus/varus stress on knee

Question 9

for shoulder dislocation

Answer 9

apprehension test

Question 10

lateral epicondylitis

Answer 10

tennis elbow

Question 11

hold arm out to side, will drop

Answer 11

Drop arm test

to assess for rotator cuff tears

Question 12

measure from umbilicus to medial malleolus

Answer 12

apparent leg length

Question 13

standing, lift one foot; look for hip drop on side with weak hip abductors

Answer 13

Trendelenburg test

Question 14

“pour out beer cans”

Answer 14

supraspinatus test

Question 15

look from front at knee heights

Answer 15

tibial length discrepancy

Question 16

externally rotate forearm while palpating bicipital groove

Answer 16

Yergason test

Question 17

to test for arthritis in thumb

Answer 17

grind first CMC joint

Question 18

squeeze foot from sides

Answer 18

MTP squeeze test

Morton’s neuroma

Question 19

occlude radial & ulnar arteries; to check palmar arch patency

Answer 19

Allen test

Question 20

drive head of humerus against acromion

Answer 20

Hawkins test

Question 21

tap over median nerve; for carpal tunnel

Answer 21

Tinel test

Question 22

hold thumb in fist and move fist down

Answer 22

Finkelstein’s test

for DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis

Question 23

press backs of hands together; for carpal tunnel

Answer 23

Phalen’s test

Question 24

scaphoid fracture; HPI of fall onto outstretched hand

Answer 24

snuffbox tenderness

Question 25

to determine if meniscus is torn - patient prone

Answer 25

Apley’s compression test

Question 26

medial epicondylitis

Answer 26

golf elbow

Question 27

to test for ligament damage - patient prone

Answer 27

Apley’s distraction test

Question 28

push down on patella and it pops back up like a buoy

Answer 28

ballottement test

test for effusion

Question 29

improvement on anterior drawer test for anterior cruciate ligament tear

Answer 29

Lachman’s test

Question 30

have patient kneel on chair with one leg, then you squeeze their calf to observe for heel movement

Answer 30

Thompson test, for Achilles integrity