Hip
Structural / Osseous
Evidence: suggestive
Weber-Barstow Maneuver Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Normalizing pelvic alignment before measuring Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD).
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies supine with hips and knees flexed.
- Action: Patient lifts the pelvis off the table (bridge) and then relaxes back down. Examiner passively extends the legs.
- Result: This resets the pelvis. The examiner then compares the level of the medial malleoli to assess gross leg length difference.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Visible difference in the level of the malleoli indicates LLD.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Weber-Barstow Maneuver 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 Weber-Barstow Maneuver with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
