Execution
- 1Position the patient prone with the hips neutral.
- 2Stabilize the pelvis to monitor anterior pelvic tilt or lumbar extension.
- 3Passively flex the patient’s knee by moving the heel toward the buttock.
- 4Observe the ipsilateral hip and pelvis during knee flexion.
- 5Compare the amount of knee flexion and pelvic movement with the opposite side.
Positive outcome
The test is positive when the ipsilateral hip flexes, the buttock rises, or the pelvis tilts anteriorly before full knee flexion is reached. The finding suggests rectus femoris tightness. Anterior thigh pain without the expected movement pattern may reflect neural or joint sensitivity instead of simple muscle length limitation.
CommentEly’s test is a muscle-length test, not a diagnostic accuracy test for hip pathology. Magee uses it to assess rectus femoris tightness and anterior thigh soft-tissue restriction. Knee pathology, femoral nerve mechanosensitivity, and lumbar extension substitution can confound interpretation.
Low Clinical Value