Hip
Intra-Articular / SIJ
Evidence: confirmed
Gaenslen's Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Provocation test for Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) dysfunction.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies supine close to the edge of the table.
- Action: Patient holds one knee to the chest (flexion). The other leg hangs off the edge of the table (hyperextension).
- Force: Examiner applies overpressure to both legs.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain in the SI joint.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Part of the Laslett Cluster for SIJ pain.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Gaenslen's Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Hip region, combining the Gaenslen's Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
