Special Tests Flashcards
What is the difference between range of motion and flexibility?
ROM is the available amount of movement of a joint, whereas flexibility is the ability of soft tissue structures, such as muscle, tendon, and connective tissue, to elongate through the available range of movement of a joint.
What test assesses the length of the hip flexors?
The Thomas Test
When doing the Thomas Test, make sure to check for any excessive lumbar (lordosis/kyphosis) when they bring their knee to their chest because this is usually present in patients who have tight hip flexors.
lordosis
In a positive Thomas Test, the hip remains (flexed/extended) and is (able/unable) to get to 0 degrees of (flexion/extension), the knee will be in (more/less) than 90 degrees of flexion, and an (anterior/posterior) pelvic tilt or lumbar spine rotation occurs.
flexed; unable; extension; less than; anterior
How do you take the rectus femoris out of the equation to look at the iliopsoas when doing the Thomas test?
Complete the test with an extended knee
What test assesses the length of the IT Band?
Ober’s test
Is the knee flexed or fully extended when completing the obers test? Why?
Fully extended to maximally lengthen the IT Band
A positive Ober’s test is when the hip will remain (adducted/abducted) and does not (adduct/abduct) past anatomical neutral.
abducted; adduct
What are some common symptoms of a tight IT band?
Pain on the outside of your knee and pain on the lateral part of your hip
What two tests measure the length of the hamstrings?
The 90/90 test and a straight leg raise
When doing the 90/90 test with a goniometer, do you measure it as knee flexion or hip flexion?
Knee
What is a positive test for the 90/90 test?
This test is positive if your patient does not come further than within 20 degrees of full extension.
When doing the straight leg raise test with a goniometer, do you measure it as knee flexion or hip flexion?
Hip flexion
What is a positive test for the straight leg raise?
Not being able to reach at least 70 degrees
What test assesses the integrity of the MCL ?
Valgus stress test at the knee
Do you perform the valgus stress test in prone or supine and with a straight knee or the knee flexed to 30 degrees?
Supine with the knee flexed to 30 degrees
When doing the valgus stress test? Is the top hand on the medial or lateral part of the knee and is the bottom hand on the medial or lateral part of the leg?
Top hand - lateral part of the knee. Bottom hand - medial part of the leg.
When performing the valgus stress test, the MCL will be under (compression/tension) and the LCL will be under (compression/tension).
tension; compression
What is a positive test for the valgus stress test?
Pain or laxity
What test assesses the integrity of the LCL?
Varus stress test at the knee
Do you perform the varus stress test in prone or supine and with a straight knee or the knee flexed to 30 degrees?
Supine with the knee flexed to 30 degrees
When doing the varus stress test? Is the top hand on the medial or lateral part of the knee and is the bottom hand on the medial or lateral part of the leg?
Top hand - medial part of the knee. Bottom hand - lateral part of the leg.
When performing the varus stress test, the MCL will be under (compression/tension) and the LCL will be under (compression/tension).
compression; tension
What is a positive test for the varus stress test?
Pain or laxity
What test assesses the integrity of the ACL?
Anterior drawer test
The ACL prevents the forward translation of the (tibia/femur) on the (tibia/femur).
tibia on the femur
What is the patient position when doing the anterior drawer test? What is the therapists position?
Patient - Supine and in 45 degrees of hip flexion and 90 degrees of knee flexion. Therapist - Sitting on the patients foot.
It is important to have your fingers on the hamstring tendons when doing an anterior drawer test because if the hamstrings contract they have the ability to pull (forward/back) on the tibia so you don’t get as much forward translation or tension on the ACL.
back
What is a positive test for the anterior drawer test?
Excessive anterior translation of the tibia (more than 6 mm).
What test assesses the integrity of the PCL?
Posterior drawer test
The PCL prevents the (anterior/posterior) translation of the (tibia/femur) on the (tibia/femur).
tibia on the femur
What is the patient position when doing the posterior drawer test? What is the therapists position?
Patient - Supine and in 45 degrees of hip flexion and 90 degrees of knee flexion. Therapist - Sitting on the patients foot.
Where are the therapists hands when doing the posterior drawer test?
The patellafemoral joint line
What is a positive test for the posterior drawer test?
Excessive posterior translation of the tibia (more than 6 mm).
How do you assess the integrity of the ATFL ligament?
Patient supine, plantarflex foot to 10-15 degrees, let heel hang, back of calcaneus should be slightly touching plinthe, place hand on tibia to stabilize, rest plantar surface of foot on other forearm, and do an anterior translation of the calcaneus.
What motion(s) does the ATFL resist?
Plantar flexion and inversion
What is a positive test when assessing the integrity of the ATFL?
Pain or laxity
How do you assess the integrity of the CFL ?
Patient supine with the foot in neutral dorsiflexion, let the heel hang, back of calcaneus should be slightly touching plinthe, place hand on tibia to stabilize, rest plantar surface of foot on other forearm, and apply an inversion force to the calcaneus.
What motion(s) does the CFL resist?
Inversion from a neutral dorsi flexed position
What is a positive test when assessing the integrity of the CFL?
Pain or laxity