LE Special tests (what it tests and positive test results)
Special Test: Faber Test
AKA: Figure 4 or Patrick's test! Purpose: sacroiliac joint pain Positive result: pain
Wilson's Test
Indicates: Osteochondritis Dessicans*** (location is the lateral aspect of the medial femoral condyle) Pt. seated, actively extends flexed knee with tibia internally rotated. When 30 degrees is reached the pain increases and is relieved by externally rotating the tibia Positive: Pain Decreases
Special Test: Tinel's Sign (ankle)
PURPOSE: Check for tarsal tunnel syndrome POSITIVE RESULT: Complaints of localized nerve tenderness
Special Test: Thomas Test
PURPOSE: Evaluate length of iliopsoas POSITIVE RESULT: If pt cannot keep low back and sacrum against the table
Special Test: Valgus Stress Test
PURPOSE: Integrity of MCL POSITIVE RESULT: Pain along MCL
SPECIAL TEST: Straight Leg Raise Test
PURPOSE: Test for Hamstring Tightness POSITIVE Results: hip flexion less than 68 degrees
SPECIAL TEST: Ober Test
PURPOSE: Test for IT Band Tightness POSITIVE Results: Inability of the leg to adduct and touch the table
SPECIAL TEST: Ely's Test
PURPOSE: Test for Rectus Femoris Length/Tightness POSITIVE Results: if there's attempted hip flexion with the knee flexion that is performed
Special test: Talar tilt
PURPOSE: test for injury to the lateral ligaments of the ankle.
Special Test: Slump Test
PURPOSE: test for neural tension POSITIVE RESULT: pain
Zohler's Sign
Pain is indicative of a positive test for patellar chondromalacia. Patient supine with the knees extended. The examiner pulls the patella distally and holds it in this position. Patient is asked to contract the quadriceps.
Special test: pivot-shift test
Purpose: Anterolateral rotatory instability, rupture of the ACL Positive test: when knee flexes tibia clunks backward at approximately 30° - 40°.
Special test: reverse Lachman's
Purpose: PCL integrity Positive test: ligament laxity
Special test: Noble test
Purpose: assess for IT band friction syndrome Positive test: Pain produced over the distal IT band, before 30 degrees short of knee extension is a positive test.
Special test: Dial test of knee
Purpose: assess rotary instability of the knee Positive result: if there's 10+ degrees of ER
Special test: McMurray test
Purpose: check for meniscus tear Positive test: pain
Special Test: Varus Stress Test
Purpose: check integrity of LCL Positive test: pain if varus force at knee
Special Test: Squeeze Test
Purpose: identify syndesmotic injuries Positive result: pain in syndesmosis
Special test: Lachman's test
Purpose: integrity of ACL Positive result: excessive/lax movement or lack of firm end feel
Special test: Anterior Drawer Test of knee
Purpose: integrity of ACL Positive test: lack of end feel
Special Test: Posterior Drawer of knee
Purpose: integrity of PCL Positive result: no end feel
Special test: Dial test of hip
Purpose: laxity of the anterior hip capsule and iliofemoral ligament. Positive result: ROM greater than 45 degrees and no rebound back to neutral
Special Test: Homan's Sign
Purpose: may indicate presence of DVT Positive test: deep calf pain and tenderness
Special Test - Piriformis test
Purpose: piriformis tightness or compression on the sciatic nerve caused by the piriformis positive test: is indicated by pain or tightness
Special test: hip scour/quadrant test
Purpose: see if hip is a source of pain/OA of hip Positive result: pain
Special test: Thompson test
Purpose: test for achilles tendon rupture Positive result: if ankle DOES NOT plantar flex
Special Test: Tap Test
Purpose: test for fracture of LE Positive result: pain (?)
Special Test: Trendelenburg Test
Purpose: test for glute med tendon tear and weak ABDs Positive result: pelvic drop or when pt's trunk leans to the same side of the leg that's standing
Special test: Thessaly test
Purpose: test for meniscus tear Positive result: if there's pain in joint line
Special test: Calf squeeze
Purpose: test if there's a ruptured achilles tendon Positive result: if ankle remains still
Special test: Anterior drawer for ankle
Purpose: test integrity of ATFL (anterior talo-fibular ligament) Positive result: If talus moves
Special Test - Craig's test
Purpose: tests for femoral anteversion Positive test: if the angle is greater than 8-15 degrees
Special test: Windlass test
Purpose: tests for plantar fasciitis Positive test: heel pain reproduced with passive dorsiflexion of the toes
Special test: tripod sign
Purpose: to limit effect of tight hamstrings Positive test: tightness in the hamstrings or extension of the trunk
Kleiger's Test (External Rotation Test)
Purpose: used for the diagnosis of a medial ankle sprain, to assess the deltoid ligament sprain and inferior tibiofibular syndesmotic sprain With lower leg stabilized, foot is rotated laterally to stress the deltoid Positive test: pain medially, pain may also radiate upward to the leg depending on the severity of the injury.
Gillet's test
Testing for SI joint dysfunction, accesses posterior movement of the ilium relative to the sacrum