Knee
ACL & PCL
Evidence: suggestive
Crossover Test (Arnold) Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Differentiating between Anterolateral (ALRI) and Anteromedial (AMRI) instability.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient stands and crosses the unaffected leg over the injured leg.
- Action: Patient rotates the torso away from the injured side (creating tibial internal rotation) or towards it.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain or a sensation of the knee giving way implies rotational instability.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Crossover Test (Arnold) 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 Knee region, combining the Crossover Test (Arnold) with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
