Assess gait pattern while walking. Look at alignment and for any abnormal knee thrusting movements.
Muscle attachments around knee allow knee range of motion (ROM)
Assess gait pattern while walking. Look at alignment and for any abnormal knee thrusting movements.
Apply a valgus force at 0° & 30 ° knee flexion
Apply a varus force at 0° & 30 ° knee flexion
LCL tear on varus stress testing
Traditional femoral neck anteversion test is done in prone position
Lachman test demonstrating torn ACL
Anterior and posterior drawer tests: start test by first palpating the tibia in relation to the medial femoral condyle. Assess tibia position and ascertain if it is in an anatomical position before commencing with the Anterior and Posterior drawer tests.
Anterior Drawer Test demonstrating torn ACL
Anterior and posterior drawer tests: start the test by first palpating the tibia in relation to the medial femoral condyle. Assess the tibia position and ascertain if it is in an anatomical position before commencing with the Anterior and Posterior drawer tests.
Anterior and posterior drawer tests: start the test by first palpating the tibia in relation to the medial femoral condyle. Assess the tibia position and ascertain if it is in an anatomical position before commencing with the Anterior and Posterior drawer tests.
Posterolateral drawer test
External rotation recurvatum test
Reverse pivot test
Dial test
Dial at 30
Dial at 90
Dial test at 30° demonstrating right knee PLC instability. Repeat test at 90° to exclude associated PCL tear.
Supine dial
Comparative supine with prone dial to assess for false positive test due to antero-medial knee instability that can also causes and increase in external foot rotation. During supine dial test confirm no antero-medial instability.
External rotation recurvatum test
Reverse pivot test
Exclude vascular injury & assess common peroneal nerve function.
Combination of ACL & PCL ligament injury.
Combined ACL & PCL instability
5 months post surgery stable knee
Various meniscus tests are available and range from palpation to loading the meniscus with direct axial compression by the examiner or by the utilization of compression – Using the patient’s own body weight to generate a force in either standing or walking with varying degrees of knee flexion. The principles are based on loading the meniscus while testing in varying degrees of knee flexion ± rotational movements by a force transmission. A few common tests are highlighted.
Commonly used meniscus tests:
The Apley test
Thessaly test
McMurray test
Duck walking
Assess regional & global alignment
Hip range of motion: Internal & External rotation
Traditional femoral neck anteversion test (Craig test) is done in a prone position with hip in neutral position with knee flexed to 90°. Palpate the greater trochanter and rotate femur internally while palpating the greater trochanter. When greater trochanter lies at most lateral aspect the angle measurement is taken from the angle of rotation to neutral reference point.
Hip range of motion: Internal & External rotation
Low arch foot with genu valgus increases Q angle with increased risk of Patellar femoral dysfunction
Straight leg raise
If extensor mechanism absent assess patellar height position & palpate for any structural defect.
Intact extensor mechanism allows knee Range of motion (ROM). Disruption thereof causes the inability to extend the knee
Palpation
Assess lateral translation & tilt

Assess lateral translation & also quantify the degree of lateral translation.
Increased lateral translation after recurrent Patellar dislocation.

Patellar dislocation: Torn MPFL with apprehension on stability testing.
Patellar Apprehension Test
Apply valgus force to patellar & flex from full extension. Positive test: Patient apprehend movement due to pain & patellar subluxation.