The Pocket Atlas of Special Tests for the Lower Limb

 Jane Johnson, PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), BA (Hons), is a physiotherapist specializing in musculoskeletal health; in this role, she uses many different assessment techniques. Johnson is passionate about supporting students and helping newly qualified therapists gain confidence in their use of assessment and treatment techniques. Her aim is to share the knowledge she has gained in over 20 years of clinical practice, which she does using simple explanations. Johnson is the author of six titles in the Hands-On Guides for Therapists series: Postural Assessment, Postural Correction, Therapeutic Stretching, Deep Tissue Massage, Soft Tissue and Trigger Point Release, and Soft Tissue Therapy for the Lower Limb. Johnson is also the author of The Pocket Atlas of Special Tests for the Upper Limb. These titles have been translated into multiple languages, including Japanese, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Korean, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Portuguese.

 

 

Introduction

Part I. The Hip

Chapter 1. Leg Length Tests

Test for True Leg Length

Bone Length Measurement Tests

Visual Assessment of Femoral Shortening: Method 1

Visual Assessment of Femoral Shortening: Method 2

Visual Assessment of Tibial Shortening: Method 1

Visual Assessment of Tibial Shortening: Method 2

Visual Assessment of Tibial Shortening: Method 3

Test for Apparent (Functional) Shortening: Direct Method

Test for Apparent (Functional) Shortening: Indirect Method



Chapter 2. Hip Joint Tests

Log Roll Test

Torque Test

FAIR Test/FADIR Test

Scour Test

McCarthy Test

Anterior Labral Tear Test

Posterior Labral Tear Test

FABER Test/Patricks Test/Figure Four Test

Stinchfield Test

Chapter 3. Muscle Tests

Adduction Contraction Test

Adductor Squeeze Test

Phelps Test

Elys Test (or Duncan-Ely Test)

Thomas Test

Snapping Hip Test

90-90 Straight Leg Raising Test

Hamstring Contracture Test

Tripod Sign

Heel Height Difference Test

Ober Test

Piriformis Test: Passive

Piriformis Test: Active

Trochanter Irritation Sign (Bicycle) Test

Bridging as a Test of Strength

Tests for Asymmetry in the Length of Hip Rotators

Tests for Asymmetry in the Strength of Hip Rotators

Single Leg Standing Test/Static Standing Stork Test

Trendelenburg Test



Part II. The Knee

Chapter 4. Tests for Swelling

Brush, Stroke, Bulge or Swipe Test

Indentation Test

Fluctuation Test

Patellar Tap Test (Ballotable Patella/Dancing Patella Sign)



Chapter 5. Plica Tests

Active Extension and Flexion Tests

Mediopatellar Plica Test

Plica "Stutter" Test

Hughstons Plica Test



Chapter 6. Patellofemoral Tests

Passive Patellar Glide Test

Lateral/Quadriceps Pull Test

Fairbanks Apprehension Test

Patellofemoral Grind Test/Clarkes Sign

Active Patellar Grind Test

Step Up/Step Down Tests

McConnell Test

Vastus Medialis Coordination Test

Noble Compression Test



Chapter 7. Meniscus Tests

Bounce Home Test

Apleys Test

Steinmans Tests

Test for Retreating and Retracting Meniscus

McMurrays Test

Childresss Test

Eges Test

Thessaly Test

Modified Helfet Test



Chapter 8. One-Plane Instability Tests

Valgus Stress Test

Varus Stress Test

Anterior Drawer Test

Lachmans Test

The Lever Sign Test

Godfreys Test/Posterior Sag Sign/Gravity Drawer Test

Posterior Drawer Test

Reverse Lachman Test



Chapter 9. Multiple-Plane Instability Tests

Anteromedial Rotatory Instability

Slocum (AMRI) Test

Anterolateral Rotatory Instability

Slocum (ALRI) Test

Lateral Pivot Shift Test

Crossover Test of Arnold

Posteromedial Rotatory Instability

Posteromedial Drawer Test

Posteromedial Pivot-Shift Test

Posterolateral Rotatory Instability

Jakob Test (Reverse Pivot Shift Maneuver)

Dial Test

Active Posterolateral Drawer Sign

External Rotation Recurvatum Test



Part III. The Ankle, Foot and Toes

Chapter 10. Ligament Tests

Supine Anterior Drawer Test

Prone Anterior Drawer Test

Talar Tilt Test

Medial Collateral Ligament Stress Test

Test for Measuring Ankle Swelling: Tape Measure Method

Test for Measuring Ankle Swelling: Volume Displacement Method



Chapter 11. Ankle Syndesmosis Tests

Squeeze Test

Dorsiflexion-External Rotation Stress Test

Cotton Test

Heel-Thump Test

Cross-Legged Test



Chapter 12. Tests for Leg Muscles and Ankle Tendons

Thompsons Test

Fibularis Subluxation Test

Tibialis Anterior Strength Tests

Tibialis Anterior Stretch Test



Chapter 13. Nerve Tests

Web Space Tenderness Test

Mulders Sign

Extension-Flexion Test

Triple Compression Stress Test

References

Appendix