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Modified Bent Knee Stretch Test

Source: Physiotutors

Execution

  1. 1Position the patient supine.
  2. 2Flex the symptomatic hip and knee maximally toward the chest.
  3. 3Stabilize the thigh near end-range hip flexion.
  4. 4Rapidly extend the knee.
  5. 5Ask whether familiar proximal hamstring or ischial pain is reproduced.

Positive outcome

Reproduction of familiar posterior thigh or ischial tuberosity pain during the rapid knee extension is positive. The rapid stretch is intended to provoke the proximal hamstring tendon. Neural symptoms or distal paresthesia should be documented separately.

Studies

StudyReliabilitySnSpLR+LR−
Cacchio et al. (2012)ICC 0.82-0.88 across three tests89919.890.12

CommentThe modified bent knee stretch had the strongest performance among Cacchio’s three proximal hamstring tendinopathy tests. The LR+ is close to the high threshold but still below 10, and the sample was specific to chronic athletic tendinopathy. It is best interpreted with Puranen-Orava, palpation, and load-related history.

Moderate Clinical Value

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