Execution
- 1Position the patient supine near the edge of the table.
- 2Ask the patient to draw the opposite hip and knee toward the chest.
- 3Allow the test leg to hang over the edge of the table into hip extension.
- 4Apply overpressure by pushing the flexed hip further toward the chest and the extended thigh further toward the floor.
- 5Repeat on the opposite side when needed and note where familiar pain is reproduced.
Positive outcome
Reproduction of the patient’s familiar sacroiliac region pain is positive. The test stresses both SI joints simultaneously, with the flexed side biased toward posterior rotation and the extended side biased toward anterior rotation. Hip, lumbar, or anterior thigh symptoms should be separated from posterior pelvic pain.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laslett et al. (2005) | test-retest κ = 0.58 | 50-53 | 71-77 | 1.84-2.21 | 0.65-0.66 |
| Broadhurst & Bond (1998) | NA | 31 | 94 | NA | NA |
CommentGaenslen’s test is historically part of the Laslett five-test set, but its individual performance is mixed and some cluster versions omit it. The bilateral stress pattern can also provoke hip or lumbar pain, reducing anatomical specificity. It is better as a cluster component than as a singleton.
Moderate Clinical Value