Examiner applies downward pressure along the femoral shaft while repeatedly externally & internally rotating the hip with multiple angles of flexion.
Tests for general hip pathology and degenerative joint disease
Positive: reproduction of pain symptoms or apprehension to perform
Hip scour test
Achievable
Patrick (FABER) test
Patient supine, passively flex, abduct, and externally rotate the test leg so the foot is resting above the knee on the opposite leg; then slowly lower the leg toward the table
Identifiers: dysfunction of the hip, specifically mobility dysfunction
Positive: involved knee is unable to assume a relaxed position and/or reproduce painful symptoms
Patrick (FABER) test
Achievable
Thomas test
Patient supine; one hip and knee maximally flexed to the chest with hold; opposite limb is kept straight on the table
Tests for the tightness of hip flexors
Positive: straight limb flexes, and the patient is unable to keep this leg straight on the table
Thomas test
Achievable
Ober’s test
Patient side-lying on the untested side with the bottom leg flexed at the hip and knee for stability; the examiner stabilizes the pelvis, passively abducts and extends the top (tested) leg with its knee flexed to 90 degrees, then slowly lowers it toward the table
Tests for the tightness of the tensor fascia lata or the iliotibial band
Positive: uppermost leg remains above horizontal
Ober's test
Achievable
Ely’s test
Patient is prone; flex the knee of the tested limb
Tests for the tightness of the rectus femoris
Positive: hip of the tested limb flexes
Ely's test
Achievable
90-90 hamstring test
Patient position in supine; hip and knee supported in 90 degrees flexion; passively extend the knee until end feel is encountered
Test for the tightness of the hamstrings
Positive: knee lacks 10 degrees or greater of knee extension
90-90 hamstring test
Achievable
Piriformis test
Patient supine with the tested hip and knee flexed so the foot rests lateral to the opposite knee; the tested hip is then passively adducted (moved across midline)
Tests for piriformis tightness and syndrome
Positive: tested knee is unable to pass over resting knee or reproduction of pain- pain in buttocks or sciatic nerve pain
Piriformis test
Achievable
Trendelenburg test
Patient standing and asked to stand on one leg; observe the pelvis of the stance leg.
Tests for gluteus medius weakness
Positive: swing side pelvis drops when in single leg stance, or compensation by leaning the trunk over the stance leg
Trendelenburg test
Achievable
PTA role in special tests
Special tests are data-collection tools within existing plan of care
PTA does not diagnose or alter plan independently
Positive findings/red flags reported to supervising PT for next steps
Hip scour test
Downward pressure on femur with rotation through flexion arcs
Screens for general hip pathology/degenerative joint disease
Positive: pain reproduction or apprehension
Patrick (FABER) test
Supine; flex, abduct, externally rotate leg (figure-4 position), then lower
Identifies hip mobility dysfunction
Positive: knee can’t relax down and/or pain reproduced
Thomas test
Supine; one hip/knee flexed to chest, opposite leg stays straight
Tests hip flexor tightness
Positive: straight leg lifts off table (unable to stay flat)
Ober’s test
Side-lying; top leg abducted/extended with knee at 90°, then lowered
Tests tensor fascia lata/IT band tightness
Positive: leg remains above horizontal
Ely’s test
Prone; flex knee of tested limb
Tests rectus femoris tightness
Positive: hip of tested limb flexes (rises off table)
90-90 hamstring test
Supine; hip/knee at 90°, then passively extend knee
Tests hamstring tightness
Positive: lacks ≥10° of knee extension
Piriformis test
Supine; hip/knee flexed, foot lateral to opposite knee, hip adducted across midline
Tests piriformis tightness/syndrome
Positive: knee can’t cross opposite knee, or buttock/sciatic pain reproduced
Trendelenburg test
Standing; patient balances on one leg, observe pelvis
Tests gluteus medius weakness
Positive: opposite pelvis drops or trunk leans over stance leg
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Examiner applies downward pressure along the femoral shaft while repeatedly externally & internally rotating the hip with multiple angles of flexion.
Tests for general hip pathology and degenerative joint disease
Positive: reproduction of pain symptoms or apprehension to perform
Patrick (FABER) test
Patient supine, passively flex, abduct, and externally rotate the test leg so the foot is resting above the knee on the opposite leg; then slowly lower the leg toward the table
Identifiers: dysfunction of the hip, specifically mobility dysfunction
Positive: involved knee is unable to assume a relaxed position and/or reproduce painful symptoms
Thomas test
Patient supine; one hip and knee maximally flexed to the chest with hold; opposite limb is kept straight on the table
Tests for the tightness of hip flexors
Positive: straight limb flexes, and the patient is unable to keep this leg straight on the table
Ober’s test
Patient side-lying on the untested side with the bottom leg flexed at the hip and knee for stability; the examiner stabilizes the pelvis, passively abducts and extends the top (tested) leg with its knee flexed to 90 degrees, then slowly lowers it toward the table
Tests for the tightness of the tensor fascia lata or the iliotibial band
Positive: uppermost leg remains above horizontal
Ely’s test
Patient is prone; flex the knee of the tested limb
Tests for the tightness of the rectus femoris
Positive: hip of the tested limb flexes
90-90 hamstring test
Patient position in supine; hip and knee supported in 90 degrees flexion; passively extend the knee until end feel is encountered
Test for the tightness of the hamstrings
Positive: knee lacks 10 degrees or greater of knee extension
Piriformis test
Patient supine with the tested hip and knee flexed so the foot rests lateral to the opposite knee; the tested hip is then passively adducted (moved across midline)
Tests for piriformis tightness and syndrome
Positive: tested knee is unable to pass over resting knee or reproduction of pain- pain in buttocks or sciatic nerve pain
Trendelenburg test
Patient standing and asked to stand on one leg; observe the pelvis of the stance leg.
Tests for gluteus medius weakness
Positive: swing side pelvis drops when in single leg stance, or compensation by leaning the trunk over the stance leg
