Rectus Femoris Contracture Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Differentiating Rectus Femoris tightness from other hip flexors.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies supine with one leg hanging over the table edge (knee flexed 90°).
- Action: Patient pulls the other knee to the chest. Examiner attempts to flex the hanging knee further.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Resistance to knee flexion or the hip flexes more as the knee is bent, indicating rectus tightness.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Rectus Femoris Contracture 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 Rectus Femoris Contracture Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
