Patrick's test

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Patrick's test is performed by a health care provider to evaluate people who have low back pain for sacroiliitis. The knee is flexed to ninety degrees on the affected side and the foot is rested on the unaffected knee. Holding the pelvis firm against the examination table, the affected knee is pushed towards the examination table, a maneuver which provides external rotation of the leg at the hip joint. If pain results, this is considered a positive Patrick's test and sacroiliitis is more likely. However, Patrick's test does not prove that sacroiliitis is causing the back pain, just increases the likelihood.

This test is often performed alongside Gaenslen's test.

[edit] References

Slipman CW, Sterenfeld EB, Chou LH, Herzog R, Vresilovic E. The predictive value of provocative sacroiliac joint stress maneuvers in the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint syndrome. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Mar;79(3):288-92. PMID 9523780