Special Tests Flashcards
Thompson test
Patient in prone with feet extended over edge of table. PT asked patient to relax, proceeds to squeeze muscle belly of gastrocnemius/ soleus.
Positive = absence of plantar flex, indicates ruptured Achilles tendon
Apley’s compression test
Patient in prone with knee at 90° flex. PT stabilizes femur using one hand, places other hand on patients heel. PT medially/laterally rotates tibia while applying compressive force through tibia.
Positive= pain/clicking, indicates meniscal lesion
Hawkins- Kennedy Impingement
pt sitting/standing. PT flexes shoulder to 90˚ and medially rotates arm Positive = pain, May indicate shoulder impingement involving supraspinatus tendon
Posterior drawer test
Patient in supine with me at 90° flex and hip 45° flex. Therapist stabilizes lower leg by sitting on forefoot. Therapist grasps proximal tibia with both hands, places thumbs on tibial plateau, administers posterior directed force to tibia on femur.
Positive= Excessive posterior translation of tibia on femur with diminished/absent and point, may indicate PCL injury
Patrick’s Test (aka Faber’s Test)
pt in supine w/ test leg flexed, ABD and lat rotated @ hip onto opposite leg. PT slowly lowers test leg through ABD toward table
Positive= failure of test led to ABD below level of opposite leg- may indicate iliopsoas/ sacroiliac/ hip joint abnormalities
Patellar tap test
Patient in supine with knee flexed or extender to point of discomfort. PT applies slight tap over patella.
Positive = patella appears to be floating, indicates joint effusion
90-90 straight leg raise test
pt in supine w/ hips @ 90˚ flex and knees relaxed. pt then alternately extends each knee as much as possible while maintaining 90 hip flex Positive= knee remains 20˚+ flex, May indicate tight hamstrings
Lateral pivot shift test
Patient in supine with hip flexed and abducted to 30° with a slight medial rotation. Therapist grasps leg with one hand, places other hand over lateral surface of proximal tibia. Therapist medially rotates tibia and applies valgus force to knee while knee is slowly flexed.
Positive= Palpable shift or clunk occurring between 20 and 40° of flexion, indicates anterolateral rotary instability
True leg length discrepancy
Patient in supine with hips and knees extended, legs 15 to 20 cm apart, pelvis in balance with legs. Using tape measure, PT measures from distal point of ASIS to disappoint of medial malleolus.
Positive = bilateral variation of greater than 1 cm, indicates true leg length discrepancy
Posterior sag sign
Patient in supine with knee at 90° flex and hip at 45° flex.
Positive= tibia sagging back on femur, may indicate PCL injury
Cozen’s test
pt sitting w/ elbow in slight flex. PT places thumb on later epicondyle while stabilizing elbow joint. pt makes fist, pronates forearm, radially deviates, and extends wrist against resistance Positive= pain in lateral epicondyle region/ muscle weakness, May indicate lateral epicondylitis
Neer Impingement
pt sitting/standing. PT places one hand on posterior aspect of scapula, stabilizes shoulder with other hand, then elevates arm through flex Positive= grimace/pain, May indicate shoulder impingement involving supraspinatus tendon
Talar tilt
Patient inside lying with knee flexed to 90°. PT stabilizes distal tibia with one hand, grasps talus with other hand. Foot maintained in neutral position. PT tilts Talus into ABD/ADD.
Positive = excessive abduction, indicates calcaneofibular ligament sprain
Yergason’s test
pt in sitting w/ 90˚ elbow flex and forearm pronated. Pt places one hand on pt’s forearm, the other over bicipital groove and resists active supination and lateral rotatation Positive = pain/tenderness in bicipital groove, May indicate bicipital tendinitis
Adson Maneuver
pt sitting/standing. PT monitors radial pulse as pt rotates head TOWARD test shoulder. pt then extends head while PT lat. rotates and extends shoulder Positive= absent/diminished radial pulse, May indicate thoracic outlet syndrome
Medial epicondylitis test
Patient in sitting. PT palpates medial epicondyles, supinates patients forearm, extends wrist, extends elbow.
Positive= pain in medial epicondyle region, may indicate medial epicondylitis
