Special Tests
This knee test assesses ACL integrity by pulling the tibia anteriorly while the patient is supine with the knee at 20–30° of flexion.
What is the Lachman test?
Palpate just medial to the tibial tuberosity to feel this common insertion point for the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus.
What is the pes anserine?
This overuse condition causes pain along the medial tibial border and is commonly seen in runners with poor footwear or training errors.
What is medial tibial stress syndrome?
This small, round bone is embedded in the quadriceps tendon and improves the mechanical advantage of knee extension.
What is the patella
This is the first question you should ask to understand the athlete’s chief complaint and what they believe is wrong.
What is "what's your name?"
This hip test involves placing the patient’s heel on the opposite knee and letting the leg fall into abduction and external rotation to assess hip/SI joint mobility.
What is the FABER test?
This powerful hip extensor inserts on the gluteal tuberosity and the iliotibial band.
What is the gluteus maximus?
This acute knee injury often presents with immediate swelling, a popping sensation, and a positive Lachman test.
What is an ACL tear?
You’ll find this structure at the distal end of the tibia; it forms the medial wall of the ankle mortise.
What is the medial malleolus?
This part of the history determines whether the athlete has experienced similar symptoms before and how those past issues were managed.
What is asking about prior injury history?
This meniscal test uses flexion, rotation, and extension of the knee while applying tibial rotation to check for joint line clicking or pain.
What is McMurray’s test?
Located deep in the posterior lower leg, this muscle inserts on the navicular and helps with inversion.
What is the tibialis posterior?
This foot condition is characterized by morning heel pain due to inflammation at the medial calcaneal tubercle.
What is plantar fasciitis?
This pulse, located just posterior to the medial malleolus, helps assess circulation to the foot.
What is the posterior tibial pulse?
This scale or description allows the athlete to quantify their discomfort and helps guide decisions about severity and progression.
What is a pain rating or pain scale?
This test for IT band tightness involves lowering the patient’s leg from abduction toward the table while they lie on their side.
What is the Ober test?
This lateral thigh muscle originates at the ASIS and inserts on Gerdy’s tubercle via the IT band.
What is the tensor fasciae latae?
This lateral ankle injury results from excessive inversion and usually involves the ATFL.
What is a lateral ankle sprain?
Located posteriorly, this bony prominence is the insertion point for the Achilles tendon.
What is the calcaneal tuberosity?
This part of the history explores whether symptoms change with activity, rest, or specific movements, helping determine the structure involved.
What is asking about symptom behavior or aggravating/easing factors?
This knee test assesses the integrity of the PCL by observing a posterior sag of the tibia when the patient’s hips and knees are flexed to 90°.
What is the Godfrey’s (Posterior Sag) test?
This deep lateral rotator of the hip runs from the anterior sacrum through the greater sciatic foramen to insert on the greater trochanter.
What is the piriformis?
This degenerative knee condition involves the breakdown of articular cartilage and often presents with crepitus, stiffness, and joint space narrowing.
What is osteoarthritis?
This bony landmark is found just inferior and slightly medial to the ASIS and is the origin site for the sartorius.
What is the anterior inferior iliac spine?
These details — including clicking, locking, or popping — help identify intra-articular involvement such as meniscal or cartilage injury.
What are mechanical symptoms?