Special Tests- Knee Flashcards
what is the test for Patella Tendinopathy?
- Royal Hospital Test
what is the starting position of the participant in the special test for Patella Tendinopathy?
- pt lies in supine
- knee extended
what do your hands do in the special test for patella tendinopathy? what direction?
- palpate patellar tendon with fingers
- proximal to distal
what are you looking for in the patellar tendinopathy special test?
- look for local tenderness
what happens if tenderness is found in the test for patella tendinopathy? why?
- tender part is palpated again with knee flexed to 90 degrees
- puts the tendon under more tension
when is the special test for patellar tendinopathy positive ?
- pain absent in flexion
why is pain present in extension but not flexion during the test for patella tendinopathy?
- because in extension the knee is more mobile and inferior pole can be elevated to palpate deeper tendon
what is the special test for an anterior cruciate ligament tear?
- Anterior Drawer Test
what is the starting position of pt in the test for ACL tear?
- pt in supine
- knee flexed to 90 degrees
what do you do with your body weight in the test for ACL tear?
- sit on the edge of the foot to stabilise
where do the hands go in the ACL tear test?
- both hands wrap around tibia
- thumbs on inferior knee
what is the movement in the ACL tear test?
- tibia pulled anteriorly
when is the ACL test positive?
- if tibia moves too far forwards
- pain or laxity
what is the special test for medial collateral ligament tear?
- valgus stress test
what is the starting position of the pt in the MCL tear test?
- pt in supine
- legs straight
what is the pt asked to do before the MCL test?
- asked to relax
where do the hands go in the MCL tear test?
- place one hand on outside of knee
- other hand just above the ankle joint
what movement do you perform in the test for MCL tear?
- slightly externally rotate tibia
- perform passive abduction at knee
when is the MCL tear test positive?
- pain
- increased laxity of joint (gapping) when knee is stressed
how else can the MCL tear special test be performed? what is normal in this position?
- performed with 30 degrees knee flexion
- some gapping normal
what special test is used for meniscal tear?
- McMurray’s Test
what position does the pt start in for the meniscal tear special test?
- pt in supine
- knee fixed
what side is the examiner on for the meniscal tear test?
- side of affected knee
where are the hands in the test for meniscal tears?
- one hand on heel (support)
- other one with thumb on lateral aspect of knee & other fingers on medial part of knee
what is the movement in the meniscal tear test?
- extend knee with IR of tibia then return to flexion
- extend knee with ER of tibia
- scoop from ER to IR
when is the meniscal tear special test positive?
- pain
- popping, snapping or audible clicking
what is the special test for patellofemoral pain syndrome?
- Clarke’s sign/ Patellar Grind test
what is the pt starting position in the patellofemoral pain syndrome test?
- pt in supine
- legs extended
what do you do with the hands in the patellofemoral pain syndrome special test?
- place webspace of thumb on superior border of the patella
what do you ask pt to do in the patellofemoral pain syndrome special test?
- asked to contract quadriceps ( as if they were to extend the knee)
- push knee to bed
what is applied in the patellofemoral pain syndrome test?
- downwards and inferior pressure on patella
when is the patellofemoral pain syndrome special test positive?
- pain of patella
- inability to complete test
