Execution
- 1Position the patient supine.
- 2Move the test hip into full flexion, external rotation, and abduction.
- 3Guide the hip from that position toward extension.
- 4Add internal rotation and adduction during the extension arc.
- 5Listen and feel for clicking while asking about pain.
Positive outcome
Pain, clicking, catching, or apprehension during the manoeuvre is positive. Magee states that a positive test may indicate an anterosuperior labral tear or iliopsoas tendonitis. Painful clicking in the anterior groin is more suspicious than painless noise.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzgerald (1995) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Reiman et al. (2015) — systematic review | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
CommentMagee describes the Fitzgerald anterior labral manoeuvre as a labral and iliopsoas provocation arc. Labral tests generally have heterogeneous diagnostic accuracy and need imaging or arthroscopic correlation. The same symptoms may be caused by FAI, iliopsoas tendon, capsular irritation, or chondral pathology.
Moderate Clinical Value