STEINMAN'S TENDERNESS DISPLACEMENT TEST

TEST POSITIONING

The client lies supine with the knee in full extension.

The therapist places the proximal hand under the involved knee and grasps the ankle with the distal hand.

ACTION

The therapist passively moves the client's involved knee into various ranges of knee flexion, followed by a dynamic movement into internal rotation and external rotation.

POSITIVE FINDING

A client who either complains of pain during the rotational component or lacks full flexion may have a meniscal tear.

CONSIDERATIONS & COMMENTS

It is important to maintain quadriceps and hamstring muscle relaxation during this test.

If the client is unable to obtain full flexion, the therapist may want to perform passive internal and external rotation at the point of maximal available flexion and assess for any reproduction of pain.