Gaenslen Test
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Purpose
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Gaenslen's Test is used to detect musculoskeletal abnormalities and primary-chronic inflammation of the lumbar vertebrae and Sacroiliac joint. [1] Specifically, this test can indicate the presence or absence of a sacroiliac joint lesion, pubic symphysis instability, hip pathology, or an L4 nerve root lesion. It also stresses the femoral nerve. [2]
Technique
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Patient is supine on the edge of a table. The leg being tested is hyperextended at the hip so that it hangs over the table while the other leg is flexed at the hip and knee. The patient should hold the non-tested leg with both arms while the therapist stabilizes the pelvis and applies passive pressure to the tested leg to hold it in the hyperextended position. The therapist then applies more pressure so that the hip is put into further extension and adduction.
If pain is reproduced, the test is considered positive for SI joint lesion, hip pathology, pubic synthesis instability, or an L4 nerve root lesion. The femoral nerve may also be stressed by this test.[2]
Evidence
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Diagnostic Accuracy:
The sensitivity and specifcity for the Gaenslen's test are 0.71 and 0.26, respectively. The negative likelihood ratio for this test is 1.12 while the positive likelihood ratios is 1.00. The reliability in terms of inter-examiner Kappa is 0.54-0.76. [4]
Resources[edit | edit source]
The value of sacroiliac pain provocation tests in early active sacroiliitis.
Clinical tests of the sacroiliac joint. A systematic methodological review. Part 1: Reliability.
Computed tomography in diagnosis of septic sacroiliitis: report of three cases.
Pyogenic infections of the sacro-iliac joint.
Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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- ↑ F. J. Gaenslen (1927). "Sacro-iliac arthrodesis: indications, author’s technic and end-results". Journal of the American Medical Association 86: 2031–2035.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dutton M. Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2008. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Dutton" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Clinically Relevant Technologies, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DrX6qy2yI; accessed May 2011
- ↑ Flynn T, Cleland J, Whitman J. Users’ Guide to the Musculoskeletal Examination: Fundamentals for the Evidence-Based Clinician. Buckner, KY: Evidence in Motion, 2008.
