Hip
Muscle Extensibility
Evidence: confirmed
90-90 Straight Leg Raise Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Assessing Hamstring Tightness.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies supine with both hips and knees flexed to 90°. Patient grasps behind their own knees.
- Action: Patient actively extends one knee as much as possible while keeping the hip at 90°.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Inability to extend the knee to within 20° of full extension (i.e., knee angle is <160°).
Clinical Context & Limitations
The 90-90 Straight Leg Raise 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 90-90 Straight Leg Raise with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
