Special Tests Flashcards
Ely’s Test
Screen for rectus Femoris tightness
Positive test= anterior pelvic tilt/ipsilateral hip flexion spontaneously occurs
FABER Test
Screen for iliopsoas spasm or SI joint involvement
Positive test= knee does not lower below the level of the opposite thigh
Ober Test
Screen for Iliotibial band contracture
Positive test= test thigh does not lower past horizontal (remains abducted)
Thomas Test
Screen for hip flexion contracture
Positive test= straight leg will raise off the exam table (and might feel stretch in the muscle)
–Can also have patient on edge of table to check for rec fem length–
Trendelenberg Test
Screen for hip stability/hip abductor weakness
Positive finding= contra lateral pelvis drops when standing on affected leg, suggesting markedly weak gluteus medius or unstable hip
Webber-Barstow Maneuver
Screen for limb length asymmetry
Positive test= asymmetrical position of medial malleoli
Valgus Stress Test
Screen for one-plane medial instability at the knee (MCL)
Positive test= gapping of tibia away from femur, pain at MCL
—positive findings in extension= major disruption and likely will find positive rotary instability tests
—positive findings in only flexion= one-plane medial instability
Varus Stress Test
Screen for one-plane lateral instability at the knee (LCL)
Positive test= gapping of tibia away from the femur, pain at the LCL
—with knee extended= major instability, need rotary instability tests
—with knee only flexed= one-plane lateral instability
McMurray Test
Screen for medial or lateral meniscal injury
Positive test= clunk, snap, click, accompanied by pain that occurs between full flexion and 90 degrees of flexion
—rotate tibia internally for lateral meniscus, rotate tibia externally for medial meniscus
Lachman Test
Screen for one-plane anterior instability (ACL injury)
Positive test= mushy/soft end feel, excessive displacement
Apley’s Test
Screen for meniscal injury
Positive findings= restriction, excessive movement or discomfort with compression; pain/hypermobility with distraction is more likely associated with ligamentous injury
Clarke’s Sign (Patellar Grind Test)
Screen for retropatellar dysfunction
Positive findings=pain during quadriceps contraction
Anterior Drawer Test (ankle)
Test for injury to the ATFL and deltoid ligaments
Positive findings= pain or excessive excursion laterally indicates injury to the ATFL; pain or excessive excursion medially and laterally indicates injury to both medial and lateral ligaments
Morton’s Sign
Screen for stress fracture or neuroma
Positive findings= pain at metatarsal heads
Homan’s Sign
Screen for DVT
Positive findings= pain in calf with DF or palpation, visible pallor, swelling in leg and/or loss of dorsalis pedis pulse
