Special tests

Question 1

Jacks test

Answer 1

-Assesses tension in plantar fascia associated with heel lift and propulsion
Windlass mechanism- Big toe flex, plantar facsia tightens

Manually dorsiflex big toe until foot supinates.
Grade amount of force applied 1-5

Question 2

Anterior draw test

Answer 2

• Test integrity of ACL
• Leg bent 90degrees, sit on foot, hand each side of knee, posterior to anteriorly directed force. Compare sides.
• Positive test=excessive forward translation.

Swelling/protective muscle spasms may prevent accurate assessment.

Question 3

Cross arm test

Answer 3

• Tests AC joint
• Lift arm to 90 degrees flexion, internally rotate so thumb is closest to chest, adduct arm.

Positive test=pain in AC joint area/ movement is limited.

Question 4

Drop arm test

Answer 4

• Tests rotator cuff
• Place arm at 90 degrees abduction, patient slowly lowers arm.

Positive test=Movement will be jerky, uncontrolled and painful.

Question 5

Trendelenburg’s test

Answer 5

-Client lifts foot of unaffected side. Observe pelvis movement.

Positive test=iliac crest of unaffected side is higher than on the affected side/Weak glute medius in hip opposite to the dropped hip.

Question 6

Stork test

Answer 6

• Stand on one leg, extend spine while examiner stands behind to support.
• Used to detect pars fractures with spondylolisthesis

Positive test=pain on standing leg.

Question 7

Slump test

Answer 7

Assesses neural tension
-Cervical and thoracic spine flexion, knee extension, Ankle dorsiflexion, neck flexion released, both legs extended.

Positive test:
-Pain when sitting and forward flexion= disk pathology
-Unable to extend leg=neural tension/tight hamstrings
When releasing neck and symptoms persist/reduce=muscular tension/neural tension.

Question 8

Straight leg raise

Answer 8

Client lays supine, examiner passively flex hip keeping knee extended. At 70 degrees hip flexion, passively dorsiflex ankle.

Positive test=pain in lower back or leg.

Angle:
0-30= hip problem, nerve impingement
30-60=sciatic nerve involvement
w/ankle dorsiflexion=nerve root
70-90=sacroiliac joint pathology

Question 9

Thomas test

Answer 9

• Tests ROM of hip joint and length of hip flexors, IT bands, rectus femoris and rotators.
• Client positioned supine on table. Bring both knees to chest and to hold untested limb with their hands. Lower test limb to the table.

Positive test:
Hip flexor tightness=Thigh doesn’t touch table.
Rectus femoris tightness= knee has smaller angle than 80.
IT band tightness=leg slightly abducted/patella faces laterally
Sartorius tightness=hip is flexed, abducted, externally rotated, knee flexed.

Question 10

Faber test

Answer 10

-Indicates tightness in hip flexors, adductors, joint capsule.
-Lays supine, Foot rests on opposite knee, examiner passively presses the test limb towards the table while applying stabilizing counter pressure on the opposite ilium.
Positive test=pain in back or tested limb or if tested limb remains in a plane above the opposite limb.

Question 11

Ober test

Answer 11

• Test determines if patient has tight TFL or IT bands.
• Client positioned on side. Bottom limb should be flexed at hip and knee. Top limb is passively positioned into abduction and extension. Examiner stabilizes pelvis then allows test limb to slowly adduct towards table.
• Positive test=top leg remains above table. Pain in hips indicate SI problem.

Question 12

Empty can/Full can test

Answer 12

• Tests supraspinatus muscle strength
• Arms at 90 degrees abduction, 30 degrees horizontal flexion, thumbs upward for full can, thumbs down for empty can.

Positive test=
cannot resist external pressure/causes pain.
Indictive of muscle tear or tendon/nerve pathology.

Question 13

Apley scratch test

Answer 13

• Assesses glenohumeral abduction, external rotation, scapula upward rotation and elevation.
• Should reach C7.
• Reach upwards
• Assesses glenohumeral adduction, internal rotation and scapula retraction with downward rotation.
• Should reach lower border of scapula

Question 14

Lift off test

Answer 14

-Tests subscap strength
-Place hand on lower back attempt to lift hand away. Examiner applies resistance to measure strength.
Positive test=cannot lift hand.
Indicates subscap rupture or dysfunction.

Question 15

Hip internal & external rotation

Answer 15

-Sit upright on table.
-Passively move each hip into internal/external rotation.
Positive tests:
Limited external rotation=tight piriformis.
Pain in buttocks and referred pain down posterior leg=tight piriformis