Execution
- 1Position the patient standing.
- 2Palpate the sacral base or S2 region with one thumb and the ipsilateral PSIS with the other thumb.
- 3Ask the patient to flex the hip and knee on the tested side as if marching.
- 4Observe whether the PSIS moves inferiorly relative to the sacrum.
- 5Repeat the test on the opposite side and compare the motion.
Positive outcome
The traditional positive finding is failure of the ipsilateral PSIS to move inferiorly relative to the sacrum during hip flexion. This is interpreted as sacroiliac fixation or ipsilateral posterior rotation restriction. Because reliability is poor, the finding should be treated cautiously.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meijne et al. (1999) | intrarater κ = 0.08-0.18; interrater κ = 0.00-0.02 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Carmichael (1987) — intra-examiner reliability study | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
CommentMagee’s eAppendix reports very poor κ values for the Gillet test, matching modern skepticism about SIJ motion palpation. The test may describe a movement strategy but does not reliably diagnose SIJ dysfunction. Do not let a positive Gillet test outweigh a negative provocation cluster.
Low Clinical Value