Sports Medicine 2-Special Tests

Trendelenburg Test (hip)

POSITION:
Iliac crest on unaffected side should be higher when standing on one leg

POSITIVE TEST:
Test is positive when affected side is lower indicating weak abductors

Ober Test (hip)

TESTS FOR:
For tightness of the tensor fasciae latae or iliotibial band

POSITION:
Side lying with test limb on top, the hip and knee of test limb should be bent at 90 degrees. Examiner stabilizes pelvis and drops flexed thigh into abduction.

POSITIVE TEST:
Limb stays abducted and doesn't fall into adduction

Kendall Test (hip)

TESTS FOR:
Rectus femoris tightness

POSITION:
Patient lies supine with one knee flexed towards the chest with other knee is straight but flexed over table

POSITIVE TEST:
Thigh does not touch table and thigh touches table but knee extends more than 70 degrees.

Thomas Test (hip)

TESTS FOR:
Hip contractures

POSITION:
Patient lies supine, arms across chest, legs together, and fully extended. Evaluator places one hand under lumbar curve and moves thigh to chest.

POSITIVE TEST:
When opposite thigh rises off table.

Patrick/ FABER Test (hip)

TESTS FOR:
Evaluates pathology of the hip joint or sacroiliac joint.

POSITION:
Patient lies supine with the affected side's foot placed on opposite. Examiner applies downward pressure at the bent knee while the other is over the ASIS.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain in the hip joint or sacroiliac joint.

Ely's Test (hip)

TESTS FOR:
Tightness in the text is femoris

POSITION:
Athlete is prone with pelvis stabilized and knee on the affected side is flexed.

POSITIVE TEST:
If hip on affected side extends while the knee is flexed.

Piriformis Test (hip)

TESTS FOR:
Piriformis deformities.

POSITION:
Stabilize pelvis and apply downward pressure while rotating the hip internally.

POSITIVE TEST:
Tightness or pain in the piriformis.

Noble's Test (hip)

TESTS FOR:
The iliotibial band.

POSITION:
Patient is supine and knee is flexed at 90 degrees and pressure is applied to lateral femoral console while the knee is gradually flexed.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain at the lateral femoral condyle while knee is flexed at 30 degrees.

Gaenslen's Test (hip)

TESTS FOR:
Used to detect musculoskeletal abnormalities and primary chronic inflammation of the sacroiliac joint.

POSITION:
Patient is supine with affected side on edge of table while the examiner moves unaffected thigh toward abdomen and applies pressure to affected side.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain at the sacroiliac joint.

Drop Arm Test (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Supraspinatus tear

POSITION:
Athlete abducts arm over head and then slowly lowers.

POSITIVE TEST:
Can't control movements from 90 degrees and below.

Empty Can Test (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Supraspinatus muscle

POSITION:
Athlete standing for sitting with arms out to 90 degrees in froward flexion and thumbs down.

POSITIVE TEST:
Weakness and pain

Anterior Drawer Test (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Glenohumeral instability

POSITION:
Athlete lying supine with arm abducted to 90 degrees. Examiner has one hand stabilizing the scapula, the other hand near the numeral head.
{Anterior- move the humeral head anteriorly}
{Posterior- move the humeral head posteriorly}

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain and
laxity; indicates possible damage to the labrum.

Sulcus Sign (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Glenohumeral joint laxity

POSITION:
Athlete is seated with arms relaxed at side while the examiner stabilizes the scapula and clavicle with one hand, grasps arm just above elbow with other and applies gentle downward pressure.

POSITIVE TEST:
See a depression/ dip at the GH joint where the head of the humerus is moving inferiorly.

Apprehension Test (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Anterior dislocation

POSITION:
Athlete is supine, shoulders abducted at 90 degrees and the elbow at 90 degrees. The examiner externally rotates the shoulder watching for signs that the athlete is apprehensive {position strains ligament}

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain and facial apprehension, athlete will feel like the shoulder is going to pop out of the joint.

AC Instability Test/ Piano Key Sign (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Determines the stability of the AC joint and ligament

POSITION:
Standing or seated with arms relaxed; the examiner will palate from the medial end of the clavicle to lateral end looking for an acorn ion process deformity. The examiner will apply pressure to distal end of clavicle.

POSITIVE TEST:
The clavicle will move up and down and pressure is applied; pain.

Hawkins-Kennedy Test (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Tests for an impingement between the greater tuberosity of the humerus against the coraco-humeral ligament.

POSITION:
Patient is seated (or standing) with arm horizontally adducted and internally rotated.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain and grimace on face.

Neer' Test (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Tests for a shoulder impingement // supposed to be the more accurate test between the Hawkins-Kennedy test

POSITION:
Patient is standing with arms at their side. Examiner will instruct athlete to flex shoulder with thumb down and move through ROM ending up at the ear with thumb pointing out.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain.

Serratus Anterior Muscle (shoulder)

TESTS FOR:
Looks for insufficient upward scapular rotation.

POSITION:
Athlete will perform a push-up against the wall or punch into the examiner's hand.

POSITIVE TEST:
Winging of scapula; pain or weakness

Squeeze or Compression Test (foot)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for fractures in the foot.

POSITION:
Start away from the injured site, gently squeezing.

POSITIVE TEST:
Compression at one of the bone causes pain at the site of the fracture.

Bump, Percussion, or Tap Test (foot)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for fractures.

POSITION:
With the athlete's foot hanging off the end of the table, the examiner will gently, but with pressure, bump the heel of the athlete. Stabilize the tibia/ fibula.

POSITIVE TEST:
Vibration travels along the bone and causes pain at the site of the fracture.

Thompson Test (foot)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for Achilles tendon ruptures.

POSITION:
Athlete lies prone with the knee straight or passively flexed; Examiner will squeeze gastroc muscle and should look for foot plantar-flexion. Remember to test both legs in order to compare

POSITIVE TEST:
No plantar-flexion or not as much on the injured foot.

Anterior Drawer Test (foot)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for an Anterior Talofibular injured ligament.

POSITION:
Athlete is seated with foot over the table; Examiner will stabilize lower leg while cupping their hand behind the calcaneus and pulling forward.

POSITIVE TEST:
Foot slides forward accompanied with obvious pain.

Talar Tilt Test (foot)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for an injured calcaneofibular (CF) ligament on lateral side.

POSITION:
Athlete is either supine or sitting up while the examiner stabilizes the lower leg and inverts the calcaneus.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain and laxity on the lateral side.

Kleiger Test (foot)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for an injured deltoid ligament on the medial side.

POSITION:
Athlete is either supine or sitting up; examiner will stabilize lower leg and externally rotate the foot.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain on the deltoid ligament.

Lachman's Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for ACL damage.

POSITION:
Athlete's knee is positioned at a 30 degree angle of flexion; examiner will stabilize the femur with one hand and grasp the proximal aspect of tibia attempting to move anteriorly.

POSITIVE TEST:
Tibia moves forward.

Anterior Drawer Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for ACL damage.

POSITION:
Athlete is on his/her back with injured leg flexed at 90 degrees; examiner will position hands in popliteal space of afflicted leg with thumb on medial and lateral joint line while pulling the tibia forward.

POSITIVE TEST:
Tibia moves forward.

Valgus Stress Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for an injured MCL.

POSITION:
Athlete is supine with leg extended; the examiner will hold the ankle firmly and place force inward toward fibula. Examiner will test once at a 0 degree angle and then at a 30 degree angle.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain at the medial side on the MCL.

Varus Stress Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for injured LCL.

POSITION:
Athlete is supine with leg extended; examiner will hold the ankle firmly with a hand on the medial aspect pushing outward toward the tibia. Once again, the examiner will test once at 0 degrees and again at 30 degrees.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain at the lateral side.

Posterior Drawer Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for an injured PCL.

POSITION:
Knee is flexed at 90 degrees and foot is neutral; the examiner will exert force in a posterior direction at the proximal tibial plateau.

POSITIVE TEST:
Tibia moves backwards.

Godfrey's/ Sag Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for an injured PCL.

POSITION:
Athlete is supine with both knees flexed at 90 degrees; examiner will look to see if injured side sags while comparing the two legs.

POSITIVE TEST:
Injured side will sag slightly.

Patellar Apprehension (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Patellar subluxation and dislocation.

POSITION:
Athlete is supine with injured knee bent at 30 degrees and leg relaxed; Athletic trainer will apply gentle pressure to medial side and will recreate the sensation of moving it out of the femoral groove.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain at the knee and apprehension on the athlete's face.

Patellar Grind Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for patella femoral syndrome.

POSITION:
Athlete is supine and knees are extended; examiner will move the leg up and down and left and right.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain

Clarke's Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for patella femoral syndrome.

POSITION:
Athlete is supine with knee extended; athletic trainer will tell the athlete to contract his/ her quadriceps muscles while the athletic trainer puts pressure on the patella.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain, grimace on face, crepitus, etc.

McMurray's Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for meniscal tears.

POSITION:
Athlete is supine with both legs fully extended; examiner will grab the calcaneus and push foot in and out and then will move the leg left and right.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain on joint line.

Apley's Compression Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks meniscal tears.

POSITION:
Athlete is prone with knee flexed at 90 degrees; Examiner will pull up on the tibia while holding down femur.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain on the joint line.

Apley's Distraction (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Checks for meniscal tears.

POSITION:
Athlete is prone with knee flexed at 90 degrees; examiner will hold down the femur while internally and externally rotating the knee.

POSITIVE TEST:
Pain at the joint line.

Duckwalk Test (knee)

TESTS FOR:
Meniscal tears.

POSITION:
The athletic trainer will tell the athlete to walk in a position similar to a duck and observe the athlete.

POSITIVE TEST:
If athlete cannot do this without pain, he/ she has a meniscal tear.