Manual Muscle Testing of the Hip

Hip Abduction	The patient is side lying with test leg uppermost. The therapist stands behind the patient and stabilizes with one hand at the hip. This hand is proximal to the greater trochanter. The other hand applies resistance across the lateral surface of the knee. Patient abducts hip against downward resistance.
Hip Abduction Flexed	The patient is side lying with test leg uppermost, and hip flexed to 45 degrees. The therapist stands behind the patient and stabilizes with one hand at the hip. This hand is proximal to the greater trochanter. The other hand applies resistance across the lateral surface of the knee. Patient abducts hip against downward resistance.
Hip Adduction	The patient is side lying with the test leg lowermost and resting on the table. The uppermost leg is abducted to 25 degrees and supported by the examiner. The therapist stands behind the patient at the knee level. The resistance hand is placed on the distal medial femur of the test leg. Resistance is applied in a downward motion while the patient actively adducts.
Hip Flexion	The patient is short sitting with thighs fully supported and legs hanging over the edge. The therapist stands next to the test leg. The therapist places one hand on the distal thigh and proximal knee, and applies resistance in a downward direction as the patient actively flexes at the hip
Hip Extension	The patient lies prone on the table. The therapist stands on the side of the test leg, at pelvis level. One hand stabilizes the pelvis, and the other hand is placed on the distal calf. The hand on the distal calf applies resistance in a downward direction ad the patient actively extends at the hip.
Hip Internal Rotation	The patient is short sitting. The therapist sits on a stool or kneels beside patient. The therapist places one hand at the medial aspect of the distal thigh and applies resistance in a lateral direction. The other hand grasps the lateral ankle just above the malleolus, and applies resistance in a medial direction. The patient is actively internally rotating at the hip.
Hip External Rotation	The patient is short sitting. The therapist sits on a stool or kneels beside patient. The therapist places one hand at the lateral aspect of the distal thigh and applies resistance in a medial direction. The other hand grasps the medial ankle just above the malleolus, and applies resistance in a lateral direction. The patient is actively externally rotating at the hip.
Hip Flexion Abduction Ext. Rotation	The patient is short sitting with thighs supported on table and legs hanging over side. The therapist stands lateral to the test leg while placing one hand on the lateral side of the knee and using the other hand to grasp the medial anterior surface of the distal leg. Hand at knee gives downward and inward resistance. Hand at ankle gives upward and outward resistance. Patient flexes, abducts, and externally rotates the hip and flexes the knee.

Adapted from:

Hislop, Helen J. & Montgomery, Jaqueline with contributor Barbara Connelly.

      Daniels and Worthingham's muscle testing: techniques of manual examination., 6th edition, 1995.