Athletic Injury Examination Special/Stress Tests for the Low Back

Athletic Injury/Illness Special Tests
ABCs & Unconscious Examination Neck Tests Wrist Tests
Cranial Nerve Assessment Throat, Chest,& Abdominal Assessment Hand Tests
Expanding Intracranial Lesion Tests Low Back Tests Hip Tests

 Coordination Tests

 Special Shoulder Tests Knee Tests
Proprioception Tests Shoulder Tests Ankle Tests
Facial Injuries Assessment Elbow Tests Foot Tests
 

LOW BACK STRESS EXAMINATION TESTS

TESTS

POSITION OF BACK

STRUCTURES INVOLVED

DESCRIPTION OF TEST BEING PERFORMED

MOUSE OVER PICTURE TO VIEW MOVIE

Straight Leg Test

Patient is supine. Leg is extended and relaxed. Knee is straight.

Hamstring Muscle Sciatic Nerve

Examiner lifts patient’s leg upward by supporting the foot around the calcaneus. At the point where the patient experiences pain, lower the leg slightly and then dorsiflex the foot to stretch the sciatic nerve and reproduce sciatic pain. If patient does not experience pain when you dorsiflex his foot, then the pain is probably due to tight hamstrings

  

Hip Flexor Strength

Knees flexed 90 and hamstrings off edge of table

Sartorius Muscle

Patient flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates hip and flexes knee. Resistance to hip flexion and abduction is given with one hand above knee joint. This tests for strength and need to compare with the opposite leg.

  

Psoas Strength Test

Patient is supine with lower legs hanging over edge of table.

Psoas Muscle

Patient pulls one knee to chest, if opposite leg raises off table, the Psoas muscle is tight on that side. Repeat test with opposite leg.

  

Rectus Femoris Test

Patient is seated with legs over edge of table.

Rectus Femoris Muscle

Patient is allowed to grasp sides of table to stabilize trunk. Examiner stabilizes thigh without pressure over quadriceps. Patient extends knee through range of motion without terminal locking. Resistance is given above ankle joint. Compare with opposite leg.

  

Sciatic Nerve Palpation

Patient lies on side with back to examiner

Sciatic Nerve

Sciatic nerve is located midway between the greater trochanter and the ischial tuberosity. Knee is flexed and hip is extended to move gluteus maximus muscle out of the way of the sciatic nerve. If you press firmly into the soft tissue depression between greater trochanter and the ischial tuberosity you may be able to feel the nerve.

  

Bowstring Test or Cramm Maneuver

Knee flexed 90 and patient’s leg is placed on examiner’s shoulder.

Sciatic Nerve Root Impingement.

Patient is supine with knee flexed 90 and his leg placed on examiners shoulder. Place fingers in the popliteal space behind the knee and apply pressure. If test is positive there should be a tingling, burning sensation in the hip and buttocks.