MOST COMMON STRESS TESTS

ANKLE

Anterior Drawer – anterior talofibular ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

Talar Tilt – calcaneofibular ligament; deltoid ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

Kleiger – deltoid ligament

Positive Sign – medial and lateral pain, displaced talus

Thompson’s Test – Achilles tendon rupture

Positive Sign – no plantar flexion

Swing Test – posterior tibiotalar subluxation

Positive Sign – resistance to normal dorsiflexion

Tinel’s Sign – deep peroneal nerve; posterior tibial nerve

Positive Sign – no tingling and paraseizure

Morton’s Test – Morton’s neuroma

Positive Sign – pain between 3 rd and 4 th metatarsals

Homan’s Sign – deep vein thrombophlebitis (calf)

Positive Sign – pain in calf with passive dorsiflexion of ankle and knee

extended; pain with palpation of calf

KNEE

LIGAMENT TESTS

Valgus – lateral collateral ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

Varus – medial collateral ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

Posterior Drawer – posterior cruciate ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

Anterior Drawer – anterior cruciate ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

Lachman – anterior cruciate ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

Slocum – anterior cruciate ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

Hughston – posterior cruciate ligament

Positive Sign – pain, laxity

MENISCUS TESTS

Apley Compression – meniscus lesion

Positive Sign – pain,

Apley Distraction – ligament lesion

Positive Sign – pain,

Squat – medial (internal rotation); lateral (external rotation)

Positive Sign – pain,

McMurray – medial (varus/internal rotation); lateral (valgus/ external

rotation)

Positive Sign – pain,

OTHER TESTS

“Q” Angle – patella tracking; dislocation

Apprehension – patellar dislocation

Positive Sign – contraction of quadriceps muscles

Femoral Grinding –

Waldron – condralmalaysia

Positive Sign – grinding of patella while extending leg

Noble Compression Test – IT band

Positive Sign – decreased pain

Wilson Test – osteochondritis dissecans

Positive Sign – decreased pain

Thigh Contusion –

HIP

MORE THAN ONE AREA

Straight Leg Raise – hip joint pathology (single); SI joint pathology

(bilateral); tight hamstrings

Positive Sign –

Patrick’s Test Positive

Sign –

Periformis Syndrome Test – periformis tightness (periformis); sciatica

(buttock)

Positive Sign – pain in periformis or buttock

Sign Of The Buttock – lumbar, sciatic, or hamstring (negative); bursitis,

tumor, or abscess in buttock (positive)

Positive Sign – no increased flexion

Trendelenburg – gluteus medius

Positive Sign – pain in Symphysis pubis or SI joint

Flamingo – Symphysis pubis or SI

Positive Sign – pain in Symphysis pubis or SI joint

Gaenslen’s Test – ipsilateral SI joint lesion; hip; L4

Positive Sign – pain

SI JOINT

Ipsilateral Prone Kinetic Test – ilium flexion and rotation

Positive Sign – no movement

Piedallu’s Sign – hypomobile SI

Positive Sign – lower side becomes higher side

Gillet’s – hypomobile SI

Positive Sign – affected side moves little or up

HIP

Ober – IT band tightness

Positive Sign – leg doesn’t drop to the table, pain on trochanter

Trochanteric Bursitis –

Positive Sign – pain on palpation, hip flexion and adduction while

weight bearing

Iliopsoas Bursitis – anterior groin pain

Positive Sign – pain on hip flexion

Thomas – rectus femoris

Positive Sign – extended leg flexes at knee;

Craig’s Test – internal/external rotation of hip

Positive Sign –

Torque Test – hip capsular ligament integrity

Positive Sign –

OTHERS

Leg Length Discrepancy

Torsion tibial

or femoral (cause of discrepancy)

SPINE

CERVICAL

Foraminal Compression (Spurling’s) – cervical radiculitis/nerve root

pressure

Positive Sign – pain on side head towards; pain on opposite side is

muscle spasm

Distraction Test – nerve root pressure

Positive Sign – decreased pain

Upper Limb Tension Test – brachial plexus

Positive Sign – minimal or no symptoms

Adson Maneuver – thoracic outlet syndrome

Positive Sign – disappearance of pulse

Allen Test –

Positive Sign – disappearance of pulse

Halstead Maneuver –

Positive Sign – disappearance of pulse

Shoulder Abduction Test – herniated disc, epidural vein, and nerve root

compression

Positive Sign – decrease or relief of symptoms

Valsalva Test – herniated disc or tumor

Positive Sign – increased pain

Romberg’s Test – upper motor neuron lesion

Positive Sign – excessive sway or loss of balance

Vertebral Artery Test (Cervical Quadrant) – vertebral artery

compression

Positive Sign – dizziness and nystagmus

LUMBAR

Straight Leg Raise – spaceoccupying

lesion

Positive Sign – radiating pain; pain on opposite side (unilateral

raise)

Prone Knee Bending – L2 or L3 nerve root lesion (posterior & lumbar);

tight quad or stretched femoral nerve (anterior thigh)

Positive Sign – pain in posterior and lumbar area; pain in anterior

thigh

Slump Test – neuromenengeal tract tension

Positive Sign – knee extends further with release of cervical,

symptoms decrease; or increase in symptoms

BrudzinskiKernig

Test – menengeal irritation

Positive Sign – neck and back discomfort

Valsalva – see cervical

Positive Sign –increased pain

Bowstring Test – sciatic nerve pressure or tension

Positive Sign – symptoms reestablished

Babinski Test – upper motor neuron lesion

Positive Sign – extension of big toe and abduction of the others

Beevor’s Sign – abdominal muscle dysfunction

Positive Sign – umbilicus not in straight line

Hoover Test –

Positive Sign – patient can’t lift leg or examiner feels no pressure

from opposite leg

SHOULDER

ANTERIOR INSTABILITY

Load and Shift Test –

Positive Sign – pain, laxity, reproduction of symptoms

Crank –

Positive Sign – apprehension, resistance to further motion, feeling

experienced when previously dislocated

Fulcrum –

Positive Sign – apprehension

Anterior Drawer –

Positive Sign – clicking, apprehension

POSTERIOR INSTABILITY

Load and Shift Test –

Positive Sign – pain, laxity, reproduction of symptoms

Posterior Apprehension Test –

Positive Sign – apprehension, resistance to further motion,

reproduction of symptoms

PushPull

Test –

Positive Sign – apprehension, greater than 50% posterior

translation

INFERIOR INSTABILITY

Sulcus Sign –

Positive Sign – measurement acromion to humeral head greater

than 1 cm

Feagin Test –

Positive Sign – apprehension

LABRAL LESIONS (TEARS)

Clunk Test –

Positive Sign – clunk, grinding sound

Anterior Slide –

Positive Sign – popping or cracking, anterosuperior pain

Compression Rotation Test – bankhart or SLAP lesion

Positive Sign – snapping or catching

SCAPULAR STABILITY

Lateral Scapular Slide Test –

Positive Sign –

ACROMIOCLAVICULAR SEPARATION/SPRAIN

Acromioclavicular Shear Test –

Positive Sign – pain or abnormal movement of AC joint

Scratch and Pull Test –

Positive Sign – pain, apprehension

MUSCLE TENDON PATHOLOGY

Speed’s Test – biceps tendon

Positive Sign – increased tenderness in the bicipital groove

(tendonitis); profound weakness (2 nd or 3 rd degree strain)

Yeargason’s Test – biceps tendon

Positive Sign – tenderness in the bicipital groove (may pop out)

Empty Can Test – supraspinatus

Positive Sign – pain, weakness

Drop Arm Test (Codman’s) – rotator cuff complex tear

Positive Sign – unable to return arms to side smoothly or slowly,

severe pain

Liftoff

Sign – subscapularis

Positive Sign – inability to lift hand away from back

IMPINGEMENT

Neer Test – supraspinatus and/or biceps tendon overuse

Positive Sign – pain

HawkinsKennedy

Test –

Positive Sign – pain

Impingement Test –

Positive Sign – pain in anterior or posterior shoulder or both and

indicates a grade II or III shoulder lesion

NEUROLOGICAL TESTS

Brachial Plexus Tension Test – stretch of brachial plexus

Positive Sign – minimal or no symptoms

Tinel’s Sign –

Positive Sign – no tingling or paraseizure

THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME

Roos Test –

Positive Sign –

Costoclavicular Syndrome Test –

Positive Sign –

WRIST

LIGAMENTS, CAPSULES, AND JOINT INSTABILITY

Ligamentous Instability For The Fingers – collateral ligaments

Positive Sign –

Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Laxity or Instability Test –

Positive Sign – valgus > 35°

Murphy’s Sign – lunate dislocation; level of 3 rd metacarpal head

Positive Sign –

Watson Test (Scaphoid Shift) – instability of scaphoid and lunate bones

Positive Sign – pain on radial deviation

Piano Keys Test – instability of distal radioulnar joint

Positive Sign – mobility and pain on ulnar depression

Axial Load – metacarpal or carpal fracture or joint arthrosis

Positive Sign –

TENDONS AND MUSCLES

Finkelstein Test – tenosynovitis of abductor pollicis longus and extensor

pollicis brevis tendons

Positive Sign – pain over the tendons

Sweater Finger Sign – digitorum profundus tendon rupture

Positive Sign – distal phalanx of finger won’t flex

Extensor Hood Rupture –

Positive Sign – inability to extend interphalangeal joint while DIP

is extending

BunnelLittler

Test – tight intrinsic muscle or contracture of joint capsule

Positive Sign –

NEUROLOGICAL DYSFUNCTION

Tinel’s Sign – carpal tunnel syndrome

Positive Sign – tingling in median nerve

Phalan’s Test – carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve)

Positive Sign – tingling in median nerve

Carpal Compression Test – carpal tunnel syndrome

Positive Sign –

Forment’s Sign – ulnar nerve paralysis

Positive Sign – flexion of IP joint of thumb and/or hyperextension

of MCP joint

Weber’s TwoPoint

Discrimination Test (Moberg’s) –

Positive Sign –

CIRCULATION AND SWELLING

Allen Test –

Positive Sign –

Digital Blood Flow –

Positive Sign – nail bed doesn’t return to normal color within 3

seconds