Term
| With the patient supine and the legs fully extended, place one of your hands against the lateral aspect of the knee in line with the joint line of the side being tested while the ankle is grasped with the other hand. Attempt to abduct the leg. If this action causes pain over the medial aspect of the knee joint = medial collateral ligament injury. |
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Definition
| Abduction [valgus] stress |
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Term
| With the patient supine and knees fully extended, place one hand over the medial aspect of the joint line of the side being tested while grasping the ankle with the other hand. Attempt to adduct the leg. If this action causes pain over the lateral aspect of the knee joint = lateral collateral ligament injury. If there is no pain, flex the knee to 300 and repeat the test. |
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Definition
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Term
| Have the patient lie prone with the legs extended and the ankle over the edge of the table. Anchor the patient’s thigh with your knee. Grasp the bottom of the patient’s foot with one hand and hold the leg just above the ankle with the other. Apply downward pressure on the heel while externally rotating and flexing the knee at 900. Repeat the maneuver while internally rotating the knee. If this causes pain or an audible click = meniscus tear. |
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Definition
| Apley compression [grind] |
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Term
| Place the patient in the supine position and have them flex the knees at 900. Sit on the feet of the patient and grasp the leg of the knee being examined. Pull the tibia anteriorly and then push it posteriorly. Repeat on the other leg. If there is excessive movement [> 6 mm] anteriorly or posteriorly compared to the other knee = torn cruciate ligament. |
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Definition
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Term
| With the patient supine, flex the affected knee at 300 while stabilizing the patient’s thigh with one hand. Grasp the proximal end of the tibia [2 cm below the knee joint] with the other hand and pull the tibia forward. Repeat on the other side. If there is excessive anterior movement or a mushy soft end-feel compared to the other side = anterior cruciate ligament tear. |
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Definition
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Term
| Place the patient in the supine position. Grasp the patient’s ankle and fully flex the knee on the affected side such that the heel is close to the buttock. Place the other hand over the affected knee. Rotate the tibia externally and slowly extend the knee keeping the hip partially flexed. If during this action a thud or a click that causes pain is heard or felt = medial meniscus damage. Pain during internal rotation = lateral meniscus. |
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Definition
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Term
| Flex the patient’s hip and knee at 900. Apply thumb pressure to the lateral femoral epicondyle and extend the patient’s knee. If this causes pain near 300 of flexion = Iliotibial band syndrome. |
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Definition
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Term
| Ask the patient to lie on the unaffected side. Stabilize the patient’s pelvis with one hand on the iliac crest. Grasp the patient’s ankle with the other hand and flex the knee at 900. Passively abduct the involved limb and then allow the limb to fall freely. If the leg remains abducted = iliotibial band syndrome or trochanteric bursitis. |
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Definition
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