Hip
Intra-Articular / Impingement
Evidence: suggestive
Ischiofemoral Impingement Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Ischiofemoral Impingement (Quadratus Femoris crushing).
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies on the unaffected side.
- Action: Examiner passively extends, adducts, and externally rotates the affected hip.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain deep in the buttock lateral to the ischium.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Ischiofemoral Impingement 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 Ischiofemoral Impingement Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
