NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
7.
Apprehension Test |
Shoulder |
The examiner abducts and externally
rotates the shoulder. This is done passively. |
When reaching close to 90 degrees of
abduction and external rotation, if the patient is apprehensive and resists the examiner,
this is indicative of instability of the shoulder and the possibility of dislocation if it
is carried out further. |
8.
Axial Compression Test |
Neck |
While the patient is sitting, the
examiner forcibly presses downward and laterally on the patients head. |
This test is positive if pain occurs in
the sacroiliac area. |
Feet |
A sharp object is drawn across the
plantar surface of the foot on the lateral aspect, from the calcaneus to the toes. |
If the patient flexes all the toes, this
is normal. However, with central nervous system lesions, which are associated with the
brain damage, the great toe is extended while other toes either plantar flex or splay. |
|
10.
Bechterews Test |
Low
Back |
The patient, while sitting, is asked to
extend one leg at a time and then both legs. |
This test is positive and indicative of
disc involvement if pain is produced or aggravated. |
11.
Biceps Test |
Shoulder |
The patient flexes the elbow and the
examiner grasps the wrist. The patient then continues to flex the elbow and externally
rotate it against resistance. |
This test screens for bicipital tendon
irritation or instability. |
12.
Bilateral Leg Lowering |
Low
Back |
While supine, the patient lowers straight
legs from a 90-degree angle to a 45-degree angle. |
This test is positive if the legs drop or
pain is produced. |
13.
Brachial Plexus Tension Test |
Neck
& Shoulder |
While the patient is in the supine
position, the examiner passively abducts the patients arm just before the pain in
the neck and shoulder increases and then passively externally rotates the shoulder joint,
again just before the pain increases in the neck and shoulder. Secondly, the elbow is kept
in a flexed position and the forearm in a supinated position. The examiner maintains this
position and gradually extends the elbow. |
If the pain is produced or increased in
the neck and shoulder, there is a possibility of C5 through C7 nerve root compression. |
NAME
|
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
14.
Braggards Test |
Back |
This test is a continuation of
Lasegues Test. After pain is produced, the examiner lowers the affected leg to a
point that will ease the pain and then dorsiflexes the affected foot. |
The test is positive if pain occurs. |
15. Brudzinkis
Test |
Back |
This test is done with the same mechanism
as the straight leg raising and the Kernigs tests. The patient is instructed to flex
his head into the chest and actively raises his leg by flexing the hip until the pain is
felt. He then bends this knee until the pain disappears. |
This is indicative of meningeal
irritation and a nerve root involvement. |
16.
Bunnel-Littler Test |
Fingers |
In order to perform this test, the
metacarpophalangeal joint should be extended or hyperextended by the examiner. Also the
examiner tries to flex the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and then release the
extension of the meta-carpophalangeal joint. |
If by doing so, the PIP is fully flexed,
then the result is positive for tightness of the intrinsic muscles. However, if by
releasing the extension of the metacarpophalangeal joint or actually flexing it and the
PIP cannot be totally flexed, the pathology is in the capsule of the PIP. |
17.
Burns Test |
Low
Back |
The patient is asked to sit on a low
chair or low stool and to bend forward and touch the floor with the palms of his hands. |
If the patient says he cannot do this
because of low back pain, you may suspect malingering, as flexion in this particular case
would not affect the low back specifically. The motion comes primarily from the acetabular
cavities. |
Compression
Test |
Neck |
See Axial Compression Test |
See Axial Compression Test |
19.
Chest Expansion |
Neck |
Chest measurements are taken after the
patient, while sitting, inhales and again after exhalation. |
A positive test would be less than 1
½ differential. |
20.
Compression Test |
Neck |
See Axial Compression Test |
See Axial Compression Test |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
21.
Costoclavicular Test |
Thoracic
Outlet |
This test may be performed in conjunction
with the hyperabduction test. Have the patient bend his head forward and hold his chin as
close as he can to his chest, placing tension on the neck muscles. The arms should be
extended above the head. Then, check both extremities to see if the pulse has been
altered. |
The test is positive if there is a
weakening, alteration or stopping of the pulse. |
22.
Cram Test |
Leg |
The examiners fingers are
compressed into the popliteal space. |
The test is positive for sciatic nerve
irritation if pain is reproduced. |
Neck
& Shoulder |
While the patient is seated, the neck is
distracted by the examiner with both hands, one from the chin and the other from the
occiput, making a traction. |
This relieves the pain in the neck and
shoulder and reveals that the pain has been due to a nerve root compression. |
|
24.
Drop Arm Test |
Shoulder |
The patient is asked to abduct the
shoulder more than 90 degrees and possibly to full abduction, and then he lowers his arms
as slow as possible. |
If the patient feels a sharp pain in the
shoulder upon reaching 90 degrees of abduction or slightly less, and cannot slowly lower
the arm, this is indicative of a rotator cuff tear, especially the supraspinatus muscle. |
Thoracic
Outlet |
This test is a modified shoulder
depression test. The examiner palpates the radial pulse. The patient is requested to take
a deep breath and hold it, while pulling his shoulders backward and throwing his chest
outward. |
This test is positive if a weakening or
loss of pulse occurs, or pain increases. |
|
26.
Elys Test |
Hip
& SI Joint |
While the patient is prone, the examiner
flexes each leg separately, touching the heel to the buttocks. |
This test is positive if the patient is
unable to complete flexion or if the hip raises off the table on the side being tested. |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
Hip
& SI Joint |
While the patient is supine, the
examiners grasps the ankle and bends the knee. He then flexes the thigh, abducts and
externally rotates the thigh (placing the external malleolus over the opposite knee) and
presses downward on the superior knee. The examiner then removes the external malleolus
and extends the leg. |
This test is positive if the patient is
unable to perform these motions or pain occurs. Inguinal pain indicates hip joint or
surrounding muscle pathology. |
|
28.
Farfan Compression Test |
Low
Back |
Have the patient stand and straighten his
knees one at a time. |
This test is positive if pain occurs or
the knee snaps back into a relaxed position. |
29.
Finkelsteins Test |
Elbow
& Wrist |
The patient is asked to make a fist. The
thumb should be inside of the fingers and the examiner ulnar deviates the wrist. The pain
is elicited in the lateral aspect of the wrist over the abductor pollicis longus and
extensor pollicis brevis. This test is also done another way. While the thumb is in a
flexed position, the examiner holds the thumb in a flexed position and asks the patient to
extend and abduct the thumb. As the patient tries to extend an abduct the thumb, the pain
is elicited in the lateral aspect of the wrist. |
This test is positive for
DeQuervains of Hoffmans Disease which is a tenosynovitis of the first dorsal
compartment of the thumb. |
30.
Flip Test |
Back |
Have the patient sit on the examination
table with his back straight and his legs extended on the table. |
If the patient is suffering from a
sciatic nerve involvement, he cannot do this. The patient will have to lift the leg and
bend the back to take the pressure off the sciatic nerve. If the patient can perform this
task but complains of sciatic pain then suspect malingering. |
31.
Foraminal Compression Test |
Neck |
See Axial Compression Test |
See Axial Compression Test |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
Low
Back & SI Joint |
While supine, the patient is placed well
to the side of the table with one leg flexed upon the abdomen. The opposite leg is laying
partially off the table. The examiner then places pressure upon the flexed leg and slowly
hyperextends the opposite thigh. Repeat on opposite side. |
This test is positive if pain occurs in
the sacroiliac area indicating lumbosacral joint area problems. |
|
33.
Gillis Test |
SI
Joint |
While the patient is prone, the examiner
stabilizes the suspected sacroiliac joint with one hand. With the other hand, the examiner
lifts the patients leg on the affected side to the limit and then hyperextends the
thigh with the knees straight. |
This test is positive if pain occurs in
the sacroiliac area. |
34.
Goldthwaits Test |
Low
Back |
While the patient is supine, the examiner
places one hand under the patients lower spine. The patient then raises the leg on
the involved side toward the abdomen without allowing the knee to flex. |
If pain occurs before the lumbar spine
moves, the lesion is in the SI joint. If pain does not appear until after the lumbar spine
moves, the lesion is in the lumbosacral region. |
35.
Golfers Elbow Test |
Elbow
& Wrist |
The examiner asks the patient to resist
while he pronates the forearm. |
Pain is elicited when the patient resists
the force of pronation of the forearm or volar flexion of the wrist. |
36.
Gowers Sign |
Low
Back |
The patient uses hands on the thighs to
push his trunk to an erect position when arising from a seated position. |
Gowers sign is often observed in
patients with low back conditions. |
37.
Grind Test |
Fingers |
The examiner holds the first metacarpal
bone, just below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the thumb with one hand, applies an
axial pressure over the thumb and rotates the thumb. |
If this causes pain in the
metacarpophalangeal joint or first carpometacarpal, it is indicative of degenerative joint
disease of the metacarpophalangeal or metacarpotrapezial joints of the thumb. |
Low
Back |
The patient is instructed to stand on his
heels and take several steps forward, turn around and return to his toes. |
This test is positive if the patient is
unable to perform this test unilaterally or bilaterally. |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
39.
Heel Pounding Test |
Hip |
The examiner pounds the patients
affected heel. |
This is a good test to screen for
possible impacted femur fractures. |
40.
Hibbs Test |
Low
Back |
While the patient is prone, the examiner
extends the patients thigh on the affected side and rotates the hip joint internally
by rotating the leg outward. |
Increased pain is considered a positive
sign. |
41.
Hoovers Test |
Legs |
This test is done when the patient states
that he cannot lift or raise his legs. The supine patient is asked to lift the unaffected
leg or hip while the examiner places a hand under the heel on the affected side. This will
establish in the examiners mind the amount of pressure the patient normally
unconsciously exerts for leverage. The patient is then asked to lift the affected leg or
hip while the examiner places his hand under the heel on the unaffected side. |
In malingering, the pressure the heel
exerts on the affected side will be the same or less than that felt by the examiner on the
unaffected side. |
42.
Hyndmans Sign |
Back |
See Brudzinkis Test |
See Brudzinkis Test |
43.
Hyperabduction Test |
Thoracic
Outlet |
This test may be performed in conjunction
with the Adsons Maneuver. Have the patient raise his arms to a 45-degree angle and
then take the pulse. |
The test is positive if the pulse becomes
weak or diminishes. |
Shoulder |
The examiner passively and forcefully
forward flexes or elevates the patients arm. |
Pain or clicking in the shoulder
indicates tendonitis of the supraspinatus muscle or overuse injury of this muscle. |
|
Neck
|
Have the patient sit erect and bend the
head obliquely backward, slightly toward the involved side. The examiner then applies a
downward pressure on the vertex of the skull. |
A positive sign occurs if pain radiates
down the arm. |
|
Low
Back |
Have the patient stand or sit and bend
obliquely backward. |
If pain radiates down the side which the
patient is bending, the test is positive. |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
47.
Kernigs Sign |
Back |
While supine, the patient bends the hip
to a 90-degree angle. |
If the patient cannot completely extend
his knee, the test is positive. |
48.
Kleins Maneuver |
Vertebral
Artery |
While supine or sitting, the
patients head is hyperextended, rotated, laterally flexed and held for 25-30
seconds. |
Dizziness, nausea, fainting, or nystagmus
(involuntary eye oscillations) during this test indicates a compromise of the vertebral
artery. |
Knee
|
This test is considered to be the best
indicator of anterior cruciate ligament laxity. The patient is supine. The knee is bent between 0 and 30 degrees of
flexion. The patients femur is stabilized by one of he examiners hands and the
proximal aspect of the tibia is moved forward. |
A positive sign is indicative of anterior
cruciate ligament laxity and is demonstrated by sliding of the tibia forward from
underneath the femur. |
|
50.
Lasegues Sign |
Low
Back & SI Joint |
While the patient is supine, the examiner
places his hand under the patients heel and the other hand is placed on the
patients knee with the limb extended. The examiner then slowly brings the leg toward
the abdomen. |
This test may be considered positive for
sciatic nerve root irritation if the maneuver is markedly limited due to pain. |
51.
Lateral Epicondylitis Test |
Elbow
& Wrist |
The examiner places resistance against
the patients extended wrist. |
This test is done to determine if there
is tenderness over the lateral epicondyle, and/or resistive forces against extension of
the wrist, and if extension of the fingers causes pain in the lateral epicondyle. |
52.
Lewins Test |
Low
Back |
See Farfan Compression Test |
See Farfan Compression Test |
53.
Libmans Test |
Neck |
The examiner presses superior to the
inferior tip of the mastoid. |
If the patient is unable to tolerate this
pressure (which should be gradually increased), the examiner is then able to determine the
patients pain threshold. |
54.
Lidners Test |
Back |
See Brudzinkis Test |
See Brudzinkis Test |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
Knee |
The patient is supine. The knee is
completely flexed. The examiner gently externally rotates the foot and tibia and palpates
the medial joint line. At the same time, he applies a slight varus force and extends the
knee. |
At the time of extension, there is a
click and possible snap and feeling of pain by the patient, which is indicative of a loose
or torn medial meniscus. The same procedure is done with the knee flexed and internally
rotated. At this time, a valgus stress is applied and the knee extended, a click, snap or
pain in the lateral joint line is usually indicative of a lateral meniscal tear. |
|
56.
Medial Epicondylitis |
Elbow
& Wrist |
See Golfers Elbow Test |
See Golfers Elbow Test |
57.
Mennels Sign |
SI
Joint |
While the patient is prone, the examiner
places his thumbs over the posterior superior spine of the sacrum and exerts pressure. He
then slides his thumbs outward and then inward. |
Increased tenderness when sliding outward
probably indicates calcium deposits. If tenderness is noted on inward movement, it is
probably due to strain of sacroiliac ligaments. |
58.
Milgrams Test |
Back |
The patient is supine and he is asked to
lift his legs about two to four inches (20 degrees) off the table for 30 seconds. |
If he is able to do so without the
production of back pain, there is no pathology in the intrathecal area. However, if pain
is elicited in the back, there may be a herniated disc. |
59.
Mills Test |
Elbow
& Wrist |
The patient is instructed to flex the
forearm, making a complete fist and flexing the wrist. Then the patient is asked to
pronate the forearm and extend the forearm. |
The test is positive if elbow pain is
increased. |
60.
Minors Sign |
Low
Back |
The patient supports his weight on the
uninvolved side by placing one hand on the healthy leg and one hand on his back as he
rises from a seated position. |
Minors sign is often observed in
patients with low back conditions. |
Low Back |
While the patient is prone, the examiner
flexes the knee on the side of the involvement. |
This test is positive if pain radiates to
either the lumbosacral or sacroiliac area. |
|
62.
Naffzigers Test |
Back |
The patient is supine and the examiner
compresses over the jugular veins for about ten seconds. While the patients face
begins to flush the patient is asked to cough. |
If this coughing causes pain in the back,
the location of pain produced in the back is localized by the patient, which reveals the
site of pathology. |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
Leg |
The patient is placed with the unaffected
side next to the table. The examiner places one hand on the pelvis and grasps the
patients ankle lightly with the other hand, holding the knee flexed at a right
angle. The thigh is abducted and extended laterally. |
This test is positive if the leg remains
abducted. |
|
Knee |
While the patient is supine, he is asked
to contract his quadriceps muscle. This is done by the patient actively pushing the knee
down while the examiner holds the patella in resistance to this contraction. |
If this causes pain underneath the
patella, the patient has chondromalacia of the patella. |
|
65.
Patrick-Faberes Test |
Hip
& SI Joint |
See Fabere-Patricks Test |
See Fabere-Patricks Test |
66.
Pelvic Compression Test |
Pelvis |
The patient lies on his side with the
affected side up. The examiner places his forearm over the iliac crest and presses
downward for approximately 30 seconds. |
This test is positive if pain occurs. |
67.
Pelvic Rock Test |
Pelvis |
Pressure is applied on the pelvis while
the examiners palms are on the iliac tubercles and the thumbs on the anterosuperior
iliac spines. |
This test is positive if pain is
elicited. |
68.
Phalens Test |
Wrist |
The examiner asks the patient to volar
flex both wrist. Either the examiner can keep the wrist in volar position or asks the
patient to contact the posterior or dorsal aspects of the wrists together in a volarflex
position. This is done for one minute. |
Numbness in the median distribution which
is the thumb, index and middle finger or a tingling sensation and paresthesia in this
region is indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome. |
69.
Philip Sign |
Back |
This is a combination of straight leg
raising or Laseques test in sitting and supine positions. When the patient is
sitting with legs hanging down the examination table, the lower extremity is extended from
the knee. |
If pain
is produced in both cases, the test is positive. Otherwise, the examiner should be
suspicious of any pathology in the back. |
70.
Pinchers Test |
Back |
The skin and subcutaneous tissue on both
sides of the lumbar spine are pinched lightly. |
If the back pain is produced or increased
by this maneuver, the response is considered to be positive for a non-organic disease. |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
71.
Posterior Drawer Sign |
Knee |
The patient is supine. The hip is flexed.
The knee is flexed up to 90 degrees. The examiner pulls the tibia by holding the tibia
with the thumbs on the medial and lateral joint and pulls the knee forward. |
In posterior drawer sign the knee is
pushed backward, and if the knee slides posteriorly from underneath the femur, it is an
indication of posterior cruciate ligament laxity. |
Vertebral
Artery |
See Kleins Maneuver |
See Kleins Maneuver |
|
Neck |
The patient grasps the head with both
hands when lying down or arising from a recumbent position as a result of a stiff neck. |
This test is used to detect neck
stiffness. |
|
Neck
& Shoulder |
While the patient is seated, the examiner
first depresses the shoulder on the affected side, then laterally extends the cervical
spine away from that shoulder. |
This test is positive if pain is produced
or aggravated. |
|
75.
Sitting Straight Leg |
Low
Back |
See Bechterews Test |
See Bechterews Test |
76.
Soto-Hall Test |
Back
& Neck |
While the patient is supine, the examiner
places his superior hand under the patients occiput and the opposite hand on the
patients sternum. Then, the examiner lifts the patients head to the
patients sternum while pressing down on the sternum. This puts a progressive pull on
the posterior spinous ligaments. |
When the spinous process of the injured
vertebra is reached, the patient should experience an acute pain over the injured area. |
77.
Speeds Test |
Shoulder |
See Biceps Test |
See Biceps Test |
78.
Spinous Percussion Test |
Back |
While the patient is prone or seated, the
examiner uses a reflex hammer with his thumb over the spinous process in question and
percusses it. |
A positive finding would result in pain
or aggravation of the symptoms. |
79.
Spurling Test |
Back |
The patient is prone; the examiners
thumb presses the paravertebral muscles at various levels. |
If sciatic nerve root pain is elicited,
the test is positive. |
80.
Standing Sign-Of-Four |
Low
Back |
While standing, the patient is asked to
place the heel of one foot to the shin of the opposite leg. |
This test is positive if the patient is
unable to perform this function. |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
81.
Straight Leg Raising (SLR) Test |
Back
& Legs |
The patient is supine on the table and
the examiner raises one of the legs with his hand up to 90 degrees. The knee should be
extended. |
If the pain is elicited in any degree
below 80 degrees, then the examiner lowers the leg until the pain disappears and
dorsiflexes the foot passively. If the pain is again reproduced in the back or leg, the
pathology is due to the sciatic nerve root irritation. Otherwise, it is due to hamstring
tightness. Occasionally, the pain is produced in the back and in the other leg, which is
on the examination table, and this is called the cross leg or opposite-leg straight
leg-raising test. |
Ankle |
The examiner wraps a sphygmometer around
the ankle and inflates to just above the patients systolic blood pressure for 1-2
minutes. |
Pain indicates a compromise of the tarsal
tunnel. |
|
83.
Thomas Sign |
Hip |
While the patient is supine, the thigh is
flexed and bent upon the abdomen. |
The patients lumbar spine should
normally flatten. However, if it maintains its normal lordotic curve, the test is
positive. Involuntary flexion of the opposite knee indicates a hip flexion contracture. |
84.
Thompson Squeeze Test |
Ankle |
While the patient is prone with the knee
flexed, the examiner squeezes the calf muscle against the tibia and the fibula. |
The foot should plantar flex. If not,
this is indicative of Achilles tendon damage or rupture. |
85.
Tinels Sign at the Elbow |
Elbow |
The examiner taps the ulnar groove which
is the area between the medial epicondyle and olecranon. |
A tingling sensation in the medial side
of the forearm to the ring and little finger is a sign of ulnar neuritis or a regional
neuroma. |
86.
Tinels Sign for the Unlnar Nerve at the Wrist |
Wrist |
This is done by tapping the Guyons
canal in the medial aspect of the wrist. |
A tingling sensation and/or paresthesia
in the little and ring finger is a sign of neural entrapment or neuroma or neuritis of the
ulnar nerve in the Guyons canal. |
87.
Tinels Sign for the Median Nerve at the Wrist |
Wrist |
The examiner taps the carpal tunnel at
the volar aspect of the wrist. |
A tingling sensation and/or paresthesia
in the thumb, index finger and middle finger is a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. |
NAME |
BODY PART |
PROCEDURE |
INDICATIONS |
88.
Traction Test |
Neck |
See Distraction Test |
See Distraction Test |
89.
Trendelenburgs Test |
Hip |
Have the patient stand on the affected
leg, flex the other leg at the knee and raise the knee to the level of the hip. |
If the left iliac crest raises, the test
is normal. However, if the iliac crest lowers, the test would be positive. |
Neck
& Shoulder |
See Brachial Plexus Tension Test |
See Brachial Plexus Tension Test |
|
Neck
or Back |
The patient takes a deep breath and bears
down as if he is straining for a bowel movement. |
Pain in the neck, arms, and/or back is a
sign of a disc tumor, space occupying lesion, osteophyte or any extradural compression in
the lumbar canal or foramen. |
|
92.
Vertebral Artery Test |
Vertebral
Artery |
See Kleins Maneuver |
See Kleins Maneuver |
Functional
Overlay |
The patient is tested for appropriateness
of response to tenderness, axial loading, rotation, and straight leg raising in the seated
position. |
Regional disturbances, overreaction, and
inappropriate responses in 3 of the 5 areas of this test suggest functional overlay in
patients with back problems. |
|
94.
Well Straight Leg Raising Test |
Back
& Leg |
The patient is in a supine position. The
test is performed by elevating and extending the unaffected leg. |
The test is positive if there is a
reproduction of pain in the affected leg. |
95.
Wrights Test |
Thoracic
Outlet |
The doctor palpates the radial pulse
beginning from a downward position and moving the arm through the normal range of motion
of the shoulder (180-degree arc). |
This test is positive if the pulse
diminished or disappears, if there is marked accentuation of pain, or if paresthesia
occurs any time during the range of motion. |
SI
Joint |
While the patient is prone, the examiner
stabilizes the suspected sacroiliac joint with one hand. With the other hand, the examiner
lifts the patients leg on the affected side to the limit and then hyperextends the
thigh with the knees bent. |
This test is positive if pain occurs in
the sacroiliac area. |
|
Shoulder |
The patients elbow is flexed up to
90 degrees and the elbow is secured to the patients thorax. The examiner holds the
elbow with one hand and the other hand holds the patients wrist. The patient is
instructed to resist the forces performed by the examiner. The examiner pulls down the
elbow and at the same time tries to externally rotate the shoulder and also supinate the
forearm. |
If popping in the bicipital grooves and
pain is experienced by the patient, this is indicative of instability of the long head of
the biceps and/or bicipital tendonitis. |