Obers test

Question 1

What does the ober’s test diagnose?

Answer 1

Iliotibial tract tightness

Question 2

What is the rationale behind the ober’s test?

Answer 2

By stretching the iliotibial tract on both sides, you can compare the available range of the hip joint to see if one is tighter than the other.

Question 3

What does a positive response identify?

Answer 3

iliotibial tract tightness
symptom reproduction

Question 4

Ober’s test procedure

Answer 4

1) Explain & IC
2) Patient in side lying, lower leg with hip & knee flexed to 90
3) Upper leg has hip extended 10-20 degrees & knee extended
4) Physio holds upper leg and lowers it towards the floor, fixing pelvis
5) Observe how far leg drops and compare to other side

Question 5

Positive result for ober’s test

Answer 5

Affected hip fails to drop as far towards the plinth as the non- affected hip
Suggests iliotibial tract tightness & may reproduce symptoms

Question 6

Negative result of ober’s test

Answer 6

Equal range of movement of both the affected and non-affected hip, with no reproduction of symptoms.

Question 7

Result: One hip lowers significantly less that the other and causes pain
What does this mean?

Answer 7

Tightness of the iliotibial tract