Knee Special Tests
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| Special Test |
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| Tests for... |
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| Positive (+) Test |
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| Varus Stress |
LCL laxity |
increased opening of joint space (at 0 degrees - damage to capsule and ligament, at 30 degrees - damage to ligament only) |
| Valgus Stress |
MCL laxity |
increased opening of joint space (at 0 degrees - damage to capsule and ligament, at 30 degrees - damage to ligament only) |
| Lachman's |
ACL laxity |
increased anterior translation of the tibia; increased laxity of the ACL |
| Anterior Drawer |
ACL laxity |
increased anterior translation of the tibia; increased laxity of the ACL |
| Slocum's |
anterolateral and posteromedial instability |
increased anterolateral (IR) and posteromedial (ER) translation |
| Hughston's/Jerk |
anterolateral instability; ACL laxity |
tibia subluxes anteriorly with knee at 20-30 degrees FLEX |
| Pivot Shift (McIntosh) |
anterolateral instability; ACL laxity |
posterior shift of the tibia going into 30-40 degrees knee FLEX; anterior shift of the tibia into knee EXT |
| Posterior Sag (Godfrey's ) |
PCL laxity, posterior joint capsule integrity, arcuate complex instability |
tibia sags posteriorly |
| McMurray's |
medial and lateral meniscal damage |
pain, clicking at the joint line |
| Apley's Compression |
meniscal damage |
pain with compression |
| Apley's Distraction |
ligamentous damage |
pain with distraction |
| Medial Synovial Plica |
symptomatic plica dysfunction |
reproduction of symptoms |
| Stutter |
medial synovial plica dysfunction |
irregular motion (stuttering) between 40-60 degrees into knee EXT |
| Wilson's |
osteochondral defects or osteochondritis dissicans |
pain with EXT and tibial IR that is relieved with tibial ER |
| Grind (Clark's Sign) |
deterioration of patellar articular cartilage |
pain under patella; grinding |
| Apprehension |
patellar subluxation/dislocaiton |
apprehension, pain during lateral translation of the patella |
| Sweep |
joint effusion |
small area of fluid accumulates on the medial aspect of the knee |
| Ballotable Patella |
joint effusion |
patella rebounds, "floats up" after depression |
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