Hip
Muscle Extensibility
Evidence: confirmed
Ober's Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Assessing tightness (contracture) of the Iliotibial Band (ITB) and Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL).
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies on their side with the unaffected leg underneath (flexed for stability).
- Action: Abduct the upper leg and extend the hip (to move the ITB over the greater trochanter). Keep the knee flexed at 90°.
- Release: Stabilize the pelvis to prevent rotation and slowly lower the leg (adduction) towards the table.
Interpretation of Results
- Negative (Normal): The leg drops below horizontal (adducts freely).
- Positive (Tightness): The leg remains abducted (in the air) and does not fall, indicating a tight ITB/TFL.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Ober'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 Ober's Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
