NPTE (SPECIAL TEST) EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Strait Leg Raise - Answer-Purpose: Measures proximal hamstring length
Method: Pt is supine. PT moves hip into flexion with straight knee. PT measures hip
flexion.
Positive Test: Normal ROM = 70-80 degrees.
90-90 Politeal Angle - Answer-Purpose: Measures distal hamstring length
Method. Pt is supine with hip flexed. Pt straightens knee.
Positive Test:
Normal= within 20 degrees of full extension
Knee Valgus Stress Test - Answer-Purpose: Assess MCL structure
Method: Pt is in supine. PT applies a medially force at the at joint line with the knee in
full extension and 25 degrees of flexion.
Positive Test:
Full Extension = major disruption of MCL or posteromedial capsule
Slight Flexion = MCL, PCL, Posteromedial capsule, & posterior oblique ligament.
Knee Varus Stress Test - Answer-Purpose: Assess LCL structure
Method: Pt is in supine. PT applies a lateral force at the at joint line with the knee in full
extension and 25 degrees of flexion.
Positive Test: LCL & posterolateral capsule laxity.
Posterior Drawer Test - Answer-Purpose: Knee PCL Integrity
Method: Pt is supine with knee flexed at 90° hip flexed at 45° Therapist stabilizes the
Lower leg by sitting on the forefoot. Therapist grasps the pt's prox tibia w/ 2 hands and
places their thumbs on the tibia plateau and administers a posterior directed forget the
tibia on the femur.
,Positive Test: Indicated by excessive posterior translation of the tibia on the femur with
a diminished or absent end-point and may be indicative of a PCL injury.
Lachman Test - Answer-Purpose: Knee ACL Integrity
Method: Pt is supine with knee in slight flexion. PT stabilizes femur distally and PT
applies a force anteriorly.
Positive Test: Jt laxity, mushy soft end feel.
Anterior Drawer Test - Answer-Purpose: Knee ACL Integrity
Method: Pt is supine with knee flexed to 90 degrees. PT stabilizes foot, thrusts tibia
anteriorly while palpating the joint line.
Positive Test: Joint Laxity
Lateral Pivot Shift - Answer-Purpose: Assess anterolateral rotary instability of the knee.
Method: Pt is supine with hip and knee flexed to 90 degrees. PT supports at the ankle
and apples a valgus force on the fibular head while passively extending the knee.
Positive Test: Pain or clunking noise at approximately 30 degrees of knee extension.
McMurray's Test - Answer-Purpose: Meniscus Integrity
Method: Pt is supine with knee flexed. PT supports the ankle and knee joint line. The PT
moves the knee passively into extension while medially or laterally rotating the tibia.
Positive Test: Pain.
Medial Meniscus = pain with lateral rotation
Lateral Meniscus = pain with medial rotation
Posterior Horn = pain with flexion
Anterior Horn = pain with extension
Appley's Test - Answer-Purpose: Meniscus and ligament integrity
Method: Pt is prone with knee flexed. PT applies medial and lateral rotation with
compression and distraction forces.
Positive Test: pain
Pain with compression = meniscus involvement
Pain with distraction = ligament involvement
Thessaly Test - Answer-Purpose: Meniscus Integrity and articular surface integrity
, Method: Pt stands on one leg with 5° knee flexion. Pt rotates his body left and right 3x
each direction. Repeat in 20° knee flexion.
Positive Test: joint line pain, discomfort, or locking/ catching.
Patella Tap Test - Answer-Purpose: Joint Capsule Swelling
Method: Pt supine with knee extended. PT taps over the patella.
Positive Test: Floating or "dancing" patella.
Sweep/Brush Test - Answer-Purpose: Joint Capsule Swelling
Method: Pt is supine with knee extended. PT starts on the medial side of patella and
"milks" proximally and laterally.
Positive Test: Reformation of edema on with pressure applied to lateral aspect of knee.
Ballotable Patella - Answer-Purpose: Joint Capsule Swelling
Method: Pt is supine with knee extended. PT palpates the medial and lateral patella
borders while stroking down suprapatellarly.
Positive Test: Separation of thumb and finger due to swelling.
Heel Height Test - Answer-Purpose: Knee flexion contracture due to swelling, joint
arthrofibrosis, or spasms.
Method: Pt is prone with legs hanging off the table. PT measures the differences of heal
height in cm.
Positive Test: A difference in heights.
1 cm= 1° of contracture
Q-Angle - Answer-Purpose: Assess Genu Varum or Genu Valgum
Method: Measure angle from ASIS to patella and tibial tubercle to patella.
Postive Test:
Normal: Male=13° Female=18°
Ankle Anterior Draw Test - Answer-Purpose: Anterior Talofibular Ligament Integrity
Method: Pt is supine. PT stabilizes superior to ankle while drawing the talus forward.
Positive Test: Excessive Joint Laxity
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Strait Leg Raise - Answer-Purpose: Measures proximal hamstring length
Method: Pt is supine. PT moves hip into flexion with straight knee. PT measures hip
flexion.
Positive Test: Normal ROM = 70-80 degrees.
90-90 Politeal Angle - Answer-Purpose: Measures distal hamstring length
Method. Pt is supine with hip flexed. Pt straightens knee.
Positive Test:
Normal= within 20 degrees of full extension
Knee Valgus Stress Test - Answer-Purpose: Assess MCL structure
Method: Pt is in supine. PT applies a medially force at the at joint line with the knee in
full extension and 25 degrees of flexion.
Positive Test:
Full Extension = major disruption of MCL or posteromedial capsule
Slight Flexion = MCL, PCL, Posteromedial capsule, & posterior oblique ligament.
Knee Varus Stress Test - Answer-Purpose: Assess LCL structure
Method: Pt is in supine. PT applies a lateral force at the at joint line with the knee in full
extension and 25 degrees of flexion.
Positive Test: LCL & posterolateral capsule laxity.
Posterior Drawer Test - Answer-Purpose: Knee PCL Integrity
Method: Pt is supine with knee flexed at 90° hip flexed at 45° Therapist stabilizes the
Lower leg by sitting on the forefoot. Therapist grasps the pt's prox tibia w/ 2 hands and
places their thumbs on the tibia plateau and administers a posterior directed forget the
tibia on the femur.
,Positive Test: Indicated by excessive posterior translation of the tibia on the femur with
a diminished or absent end-point and may be indicative of a PCL injury.
Lachman Test - Answer-Purpose: Knee ACL Integrity
Method: Pt is supine with knee in slight flexion. PT stabilizes femur distally and PT
applies a force anteriorly.
Positive Test: Jt laxity, mushy soft end feel.
Anterior Drawer Test - Answer-Purpose: Knee ACL Integrity
Method: Pt is supine with knee flexed to 90 degrees. PT stabilizes foot, thrusts tibia
anteriorly while palpating the joint line.
Positive Test: Joint Laxity
Lateral Pivot Shift - Answer-Purpose: Assess anterolateral rotary instability of the knee.
Method: Pt is supine with hip and knee flexed to 90 degrees. PT supports at the ankle
and apples a valgus force on the fibular head while passively extending the knee.
Positive Test: Pain or clunking noise at approximately 30 degrees of knee extension.
McMurray's Test - Answer-Purpose: Meniscus Integrity
Method: Pt is supine with knee flexed. PT supports the ankle and knee joint line. The PT
moves the knee passively into extension while medially or laterally rotating the tibia.
Positive Test: Pain.
Medial Meniscus = pain with lateral rotation
Lateral Meniscus = pain with medial rotation
Posterior Horn = pain with flexion
Anterior Horn = pain with extension
Appley's Test - Answer-Purpose: Meniscus and ligament integrity
Method: Pt is prone with knee flexed. PT applies medial and lateral rotation with
compression and distraction forces.
Positive Test: pain
Pain with compression = meniscus involvement
Pain with distraction = ligament involvement
Thessaly Test - Answer-Purpose: Meniscus Integrity and articular surface integrity
, Method: Pt stands on one leg with 5° knee flexion. Pt rotates his body left and right 3x
each direction. Repeat in 20° knee flexion.
Positive Test: joint line pain, discomfort, or locking/ catching.
Patella Tap Test - Answer-Purpose: Joint Capsule Swelling
Method: Pt supine with knee extended. PT taps over the patella.
Positive Test: Floating or "dancing" patella.
Sweep/Brush Test - Answer-Purpose: Joint Capsule Swelling
Method: Pt is supine with knee extended. PT starts on the medial side of patella and
"milks" proximally and laterally.
Positive Test: Reformation of edema on with pressure applied to lateral aspect of knee.
Ballotable Patella - Answer-Purpose: Joint Capsule Swelling
Method: Pt is supine with knee extended. PT palpates the medial and lateral patella
borders while stroking down suprapatellarly.
Positive Test: Separation of thumb and finger due to swelling.
Heel Height Test - Answer-Purpose: Knee flexion contracture due to swelling, joint
arthrofibrosis, or spasms.
Method: Pt is prone with legs hanging off the table. PT measures the differences of heal
height in cm.
Positive Test: A difference in heights.
1 cm= 1° of contracture
Q-Angle - Answer-Purpose: Assess Genu Varum or Genu Valgum
Method: Measure angle from ASIS to patella and tibial tubercle to patella.
Postive Test:
Normal: Male=13° Female=18°
Ankle Anterior Draw Test - Answer-Purpose: Anterior Talofibular Ligament Integrity
Method: Pt is supine. PT stabilizes superior to ankle while drawing the talus forward.
Positive Test: Excessive Joint Laxity
