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Squat test Use to test the ankle, knee and hip joints for mobility or there lack of
Lumbar Kemps The aim of this test is to decrease the IVF and impact the facets by
test creating extension and rotation in the lumbar spine. (If procedure
reproduces pain in the leg, neurogenic claudication is indicated. If the
pain is local, the facets may be responsible)
Djerine’s triad Intra-abdominal pressure is increased and the patient is asked sneeze
(Valsalva, cough, and cough. If low back and or leg and thigh pain increases on valsalva
sneeze) could suggest intervertebral disc herniation.
Flip or While the patient is sitting they actively extend their leg. Then place
Bechterew’s test them supine and do unilateral straight leg raises. Positive for both
tests may indicate sciatic nerve. Only one positive may indicate lower
lumbar issues.
Straight leg The patient in the supine position and the knee extended, the
raising test (SLR) examiner flexes the hip until the patient complains of pain or
tightness. A unilateral straight leg raise is full at 70 where sciatic
nerve is completely stretched (primarily the L5,S1 and S2 nerve
roots). Thus, pain after 70 is probably joint pain from the lumbar area
or sacro-iliac joints. The test will cause traction in the sciatic nerve,
lumbosacral nerve roots, and dura mater. Adhesions within these
areas may result from herniation of the intervertebral disc, or
extradural or meningeal irritation.
Pain comes from the dura mater nerve root, adventitial sheath of the
epidural veins or the synovial facet joints. The test is positive if pain
extends from the back down into the leg in the sciatic nerve
distribution
If pain is present lower leg until pain subsides then dorsiflex foot, if
pain increases with dorsiflexion it indicates stretching the dura mater
of the spinal cord
The examiner caries out a straight leg raising test, and pain results.
The knee is slightly flexed, reducing the symptoms; the thigh
remaining in the same position. Thumb or finger pressure is then
applied to the popliteal area to re-establish the painful radicular
symptoms.
Bonnet’s test (Same as straight leg raising test – supine, however induce internal
rotation at 45 degrees)
Internal rotation stretches the piriformis muscle. Leg pain may result
from sciatic nerve irritation or compression from a contracted
piriformis muscle. (External rotation may also effect siatic nerve
through contraction of piriformis)
Kernigs test Same as straight leg raising test – supine, but patient flexes head into
chest (done until pain is felt). Patient then flexes knee and pain
disappears. Pain is a positive sign, and may indicate the meningeal
irritation, nerve root involvement or dural irritation.
Sign of the The examiner performs a passive unilateral straight leg raising test. If
buttock there is unilateral restriction, the examiner then flexes the knee to see
whether hip flexion increases.
If hip flexion does not increase when the knee is flexed, it is a positive
sign. Indicating disease in the buttock, such as bursitis, tumour or
abscess (will exhibit a non-capsular pattern of the hip)
Slump test Seated position with hands behind there back. Then place patient into
full flexion preventing neck flexion. Overpressure is applied to
maintain lumbar and thoracic flexion. Cervical spine is then flexed.
Maximum dorsiflexion is induced and the patient is asked to extend
the leg.
If leg can’t be extended till neck flexion is released then the test is
considered positive for increased tension in the neuro-meningeal tract
Milgrams test The patient lies supine, and simultaneously actively lifts both legs off
the examining table 5 to 10 cm, and holds this position for 30 sec.
(Positive if the patient can’t hold for the time or symptoms are
reproduced in affected limb.)
Sacral thrust The patient lies prone on a flat table, so that the symphysis pubis is
(Springing the on an unyielding surface. The operator applies the heel of his hand to
sacrum) the apex of the sacrum and springs firmly over it.
Gaenslen Place the patient in a supine position, with both their legs drawn onto
their chest. Shift the patient to the side of the couch, so that one
buttock extends over the edge of the table while the other remains on
it. Allow the unsupported leg to drop over the edge, while the
opposite leg remains flexed.
Nachlas test Patient lies prone and knee is placed into maximal flexion (insuring
(prone knee there is not hip rotation). Should be maintained for 40-60 sec, if not
bending possible at 90 degrees test with passive hip extension with knee
flexion should be undertaken.
Shooting pains in front of thigh and leg indicate L2-3 nerve root lesion.
Can also indicated stretching of anterior thigh musculature (tight
rectus femoris may cause anterior torsion of ilium with knee flexion –
causing sacroiliac or lumbar pain). Test stretches femoral nerve.
Ely’s test Patient prone with knee passively flexed while foot is being pushed to
opposite shoulder. Positive test indicated either L2-4 lesion or tight
rectus femoris
Yeoman’s test Patient prone while pelvis is stabilized and the hip is extended using
patients flexed knee while the other knee is extended. Positive test
indicated pain in lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints
Trendelenberg’s Patient is asked to stand and flex one knee to 90 degrees while
standing on the other. Normally pelvis on other side should rise – if it
test does that indicates positive test.
Patrick Fabere (Fabere = Flexion, abduction and external rotation) Patient is supine,
test leg is placed so foot of the test leg on top of the knee of the opposite
leg. Leg if slowly lowered to test abduction.
Thomas test Patient is supine (assess for excessive lordosis – usually present with
tight hip flexors). Patients hip is then flexed bringing the knee to the
chest to flatten lumbar.
If the lower limb is pushed down onto the table, the patient may
exhibit an increase in lordosis, again this result indicates a positive
test
Test for true leg Patient must have a square pelvis level or balanced with the lower
length limb. Legs should be 15-20cm apart or parallel to each other.
Examiner uses tape to measure distance between ASIS and lateral
malleolus or ASIS and umbilicus. If one leg is shorter a true short leg
can be determined by measuring from greater trochanter to the lateral
malleolus. If there is a difference from this procedure, the following
should be measured:
a). From the greater trochanter of the femur to the knee joint line on
the lateral aspect (for femoral shaft shortening)
b). From the knee joint line on the medial side to the medial malleolus
(for tibial shaft shortening)
Ober’s test Patient lying on their side with lower leg flexed at the hip using knee
for stability. Examiner passively abducts and extends patients upper
leg with knee straight or flexed at 90 degrees. Then slowly lowers
upper limb.
Ober’s test assesses the tensor fasciae latae (iliotibial band) for
contracture. If a contracture is present, the examiner stabilises the
pelvis at the same time to stop the pelvis from falling backward
Pelvic Rock test With the patient supine, place your hands on the iliac crests with the
thumbs on his ASIS’s and your palms on the iliac tubercles. Then,
forcibly compress the pelvis toward the midline of the body.
Schober test Testing the movement of the sacro-iliac joints during forward flexion
(assessing the separation/lengthening 5cm above and 10cm below
the PSIS – S2)
Craig’s Test Patient prone with knee flexed to 90 degrees. Examiner palpates
posterior aspect of greater trochanter of femur. Hips is then passively
medially rotated and degree of anteversion is estimated (angle made
by the femoral neck with the femoral condyles). It’s the degree of
forward projection of the femoral neck from the coronal plane of the
shaft, and it decreases with age.
Refers to the manner or style of walking and is the time interval between the exact
same repetitive events in walking. One cycle starts with one foot making contact with
the ground and finishes once the same foot hits the ground again. It is dependent of
equilibrium, locomotion, musculoskeletal integrity and neurological control.
2. The stance phase is 40% of the gait cycle and the swing phase is 60%.
True or false.
False
• Stance phase is the part of the cycle when the foot is in contact with
the ground. It comprises 62% of the cycle, beginning with initial foot
strike and ending with toe-off
• Swing phase occurs when the foot is in the air and comprises 38% of
the cycle, beginning with toe-off and ending with second (ipsilateral)
foot strike
3. What are the definitions of the following terms?
a. Stride Length
The distance between 2 successive heel strikes of the same foot
b. Step Length
The distance between 2 successive heel strikes of two different feet
c. Step width
The lateral distance between the heel centers of two consecutive foot contacts
d. Foot angle
The angle in degrees from straight forward to the second toe
e. Cadence
The number of steps per minute
4. When examining the motion in the sagittal plan, which joint undergoes
the most angular motion?
Ankle joint (tibiotalar)
Tight Fibularis longus and brevis (supplied by superficial fibular nerve L5-S1)
Fibularis tertius also assists in eversion (supplied by deep fibular nerve L4)
Or weak supinator’s
(Trendelenburg gait)
This would be a good time to reinforce with you the evaluation of the
peripheral nerves, too, which would involve the SMR and NTT (nerve
tension tests)
Complete the following table: