Valgus knee stress test Tests for injury to the medial cruciate ligament/MCL or the medial common quadriceps tendon. The client is in the supine position on the table with their legs in extension. The massage therapist places one hand on the client’s medial malleolus and their other hand on the lateral side of the affected knee. The Varus knee stress test Tests for injury to the lateral cruciate ligament/LCL or the lateral common quadriceps tendon. The client is in the supine position on the table with their legs in extension. The massage therapist places one hand on the client’s lateral malleolus and their other hand on the medial side of the affected knee. The Lachman’s test Tests for the integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament/ACL. The client is supine on the table with knees bent slightly to 30 degrees. The therapist places one hand on top of the distal femur above the knee and one hand underneath the head of Patellar apprehension test Tests for a patella that is likely to dislocate. The client should be supine on the table with their legs extended and knees bolstered. The massage therapist laterally directs smooth and continual force against the medial aspect of the patella and Helfet’s test Tests for a possible torn meniscus or injury to a cruciate ligament. The client should be seated at the end of the table with their legs draped off the end, dangling. The massage therapist slowly and fully extends the client’s knee while Bragard’s sign test Tests for a meniscus tear. The client should be in the supine position with their hips flexed to 45 degrees while knees are bent at 90 degrees and feet are flat on the table. The massage therapist stabilizes the femur at the knee while moving the lower Apley’s compression test Tests for a meniscus tear. The client is prone on the table with their affected knee placed in 90 degrees of flexion. The massage therapist presses the knee inferiorly into the table while rotating Anterior drawer test for the ankle Tests for anterior ligament injury. The client is in the supine position with their knees bolstered and feet relaxed and dangling off the end of the table. The massage therapist stabilizes the tibia proximal to the ankle with one hand and grasps the heel with the other, resting the plantar surface of the foot against the forearm. The therapist then brings the foot into The talar tilt test Tests for a sprain of the lateral ankle ligaments. The client should be seated on table with their legs dangling off. The massage therapist passively moves the client’s foot into plantar flexion Thompson’s test Tests for a rupture of the calcaneal/Achilles’ tendon. The client should be in the prone position with their feet dangling off the end of the table. The massage therapist squeezes the belly of Homan’s sign test Tests for the presence of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg. The client is supine on the table with their legs extended and a bolster under their knees. The massage therapist then passively places foot into dorsiflexion. A DVT is indicated by pain during dorsiflexion, tenderness upon palpation of the
therapist applies medially directed stress toward the lateral knee while pulling the ankle laterally. The presence of pain on the medial side of the knee indicates injury to the MCL or the medial common quadriceps tendon.
therapist applies laterally directed stress toward the medial knee while pushing the ankle medially. The presence of pain on the lateral side of the knee indicates injury to the LCL or the lateral common quadriceps tendon.
the tibia near the knee, just below the popliteal space. The massage therapist pushes down on the femur while drawing the tibia forward. The ACL is considered injured if there is pain or an excessive anterior motion of the tibia. observes the client’s reaction. Apprehension on the client’s part or pain surrounding the knee is considered a positive sign for a dislocation risk. Note, however, that pain may also be due ACL damage or a dysfunction of the patellar tendon. observing the movement of the tibial tuberosity just below the knee. The absence of a slight lateral motion of the tibial tuberosity compared to the midline of the patella may indicate a torn meniscus or torn cruciate ligament. leg into lateral rotation. Pain or tenderness deep to the patella likely indicates a meniscus tear. (This procedure can also be conducted with a medial rotation of the lower leg to test for a lateral meniscus tear.)
the leg either laterally or medially. Pain on the medial side of the knee indicates a medial meniscus tear and pain on the lateral side of the knee indicates a lateral meniscus tear.
ORTHOPEDIC TESTS OF THE ANKLE
15 to 20 degrees of plantar flexion before drawing the ankle anteriorly. Pain at the anterior ankle or audible popping noise indicates an injury to the anterior ankle ligaments in the talar dome. In the absence of pain or popping, the opposite ankle can be tested and both sides compared to determine if either of the leg’s dorsiflexors are hypertonic.
before performing inversion of the foot. A lateral ankle sprain is indicated if the client complains of pain during the test or there is excessive movement of the ankle going into inversion.
the posterior calf, the plantar flexors, and looks to see if the client’s heel rises. A failure of the heel to rise indicates a ruptured tendon.
ADDITIONAL ORTHOPEDIC TESTS
posterior lower leg, or pallor of the skin of the posterior lower leg during the test. Note that if a client has a DVT, all massage is contraindicated and the client should immediately be referred to their physician.
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Book Code: MTX1324B
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