Orthopedic Tests Flashcards
Phalen’s test
To assess for carpal tunnel or compression of median nerve
Client seated, instruct client to put back of hands together, elbows kept horizontal and hold for 1 minute.
Pain and tingling in the thumb, index, middle of the lateral half of the ring finger is positive for CTS
Gillets test
Assess for mobility of SI joint.
Client stand facing wall, legs spread. Therapist palpates psis and sacrum. Instructs client to lift one knee to chest. Therapist follows the mvmt of the psis.
Positive if thumb moves superiorly when knee is lifted
Straight Leg Raise or Lasegue’s test
Tests for cervical nerve root compression or sciatic nerve lesion
Client supine, completely relaxed. Therapist flexes the hip until client complains of discomfort or pain in the back of the leg. Therapist then slowly drops the leg until the client no longer feels pain. Therapist instructs client to the flex chin or therapist dorsiflexes the foot. Pain indicated spinal root lesion, or sciatic nerve if it travels down leg
Empty Can Test
To assess the integrity of the supraspinatus tendon and muscle
Clients shoulder is abducted to 90 degrees with no rotation. Resistance to abduction in provided by therapist. Shoulder is then medically rotated and angled 30 degrees so the clients thumbs are aimed at the floor. Resistance to abduction is given again.
Weakness or pain is a positive sign. Indicates tear.
Faber’s or Figure Four test
Assesses for Psoas tightness and hip joint function
Client supine, instruct client to flex knee, abduct and internally rotate the hip. The clients foot should rest on the opposite knee. Therapist slowly lowers test leg towards the table.
Positive for shortness if the test leg remains higher then the straight leg.
Homan’s sign
Tests for DVT in the gastrocnemius or soles muscle
Client prone, passively dorsiflex the foot with the knee extended.
Positive test is pain in calf MM
Valsalva’s Test
Tests for cervical nerve root compression
Instruct client to stick thumb in mouth and blow. Watch client for signs of nystagmus, or dizziness.
Positive is pain at the nerve root being compressed (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
Anterior Drawer Test
Assesses integrity or laxity of the anterior cruciate ligament
Client supine, with knees flexed to 90 and hip flexed to 45, therapist stabilizes clients foot and places hands around tibia to ensure hamstring mm are relaxed. Therapist then draws tibia anteriorly.
Positive is any movement more then 6mm or no movement and pain in the action
Posterior Drawer Test
Laxity in the posterior cruciate ligament
Client supine, with knees flexed to 90 and hip flexed to 45. Therapist stabilizes foot and places had around tibia to ensure hamstrings are relaxed. Tibia is then drawn posterior.
Any movement more then 6mm or pain is a positive sign
Reverse Phalen’s Test
Test for cause of carpal tunnel syndrome
Client seated, therapist extends wrist fully while asking the client to grip therapists hand. Therapist applies direct pressure to the carpal tunnel for 1 minutes
Same symptoms as with Phalen’s test is considered a positive sign of CTS
Wrights Hyperabduction Test
Assesses for compression in the costoclavicualr space causing TOS
Client seated, Therapist finds radial pulse, then hyperabducts the arm with hand over the head and arm and elbow in the coronal plane. Therapist monitors radial pulse for differences, extending the head or the client taking a deep breath may add to the test.
Positive sign is diminished pulse.
Trendelenburg’s sign
Client is asked to stand on one leg, and therapist watches movement of the pelvis on side with raised leg.
Tests for glute medius weakness
Client sways when walking
Gaenslen’s test
Client lies on affected side with lower leg held to chest.
Therapist stabilizes at the pelvic while hyperextending the hip of the uppermost leg.
Pain on walking and may be indicative of a nerve root lesion at L4 or SI joint lesion
Thomas test
Client supine, therapist checks for hyperlordosis, therapist then flexes one of the clients hips by bringing the knee to the chest to flatten out the lumbar spine.
Positive for contracture of hip flexors if opposite leg comes off the table.
Pain in the quads
Crank test
Explore a previous GH dislocation only when the injury has progressed to the chronic stage.
Abduct the arm to 90, and laterally(externally) rotate the clients shoulder
A look of apprehension or alarm on the face and resistance to movement is positive
