The Log Roll Test

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Purpose:[edit | edit source]

The log roll test (or passive supine rotation test) is a special test used to assess the integrity of the hip joint. The test is used to screen for intra-articular hip pathologies including labral tears, ligamentous laxity, and impingement.[1][2][3][4]

Clinically Relevant Anatomy:[edit | edit source]

The hip is a ball and socket joint formed by the articulation of the head of the femur with the acetabulum of the pelvis. The main function of the hip is to support the weight of the upper body during sitting and standing, at rest and in motion.[5]

The femoral head is the area of the femur that contacts the acetabulum of the pelvic bone. Within the hip joint, the femoral head is connected to the acetabulum via the ligamentum teres, which surrounds the foveal artery; the foveal artery contributes significantly to the blood supply of the femoral head during childhood but its contributions are less significant in adulthood. Injuries to the ligamentum teres and foveal artery can result in osteonecrosis of the femoral head.[6]

The capsular ligaments of the hip include the iliofemoral ligament (Y-ligament), the pubofemoral ligament, and the ischiofemoral ligament. All of these ligaments limit/prevent extension of the hip. The iliofemoral ligament is the strongest ligament in the body, and it limits extension and external rotation of the hip. The pubofemoral ligament limits abduction, extension, and external rotation of the hip. Finally, the ischiofemoral ligament is the weakest of the three ligaments, and it limits extension and internal rotation of the hip.[6][7][1]

The acetabulum is the area of the pelvic bone where the ilium, ischium, and pubis converge. The articulation of the head of the femur with the acetabulum is the site where the weight of the axial skeleton is conveyed to the lower extremities.[5]

Attached to the acetabulum is the labrum of the hip, which is comprised of fibrocartilage and dense connective tissue. [8]The labrum of the hip has three surfaces: the internal articular surface, the external articular surface, and the basal surface.[5] The internal articular surface is adjacent to the joint and is avascular, causing decreased rate of healing in the event of injury. The external articular surface contacts the joint capsule and is vascularized.[8] The basal surface is attached to the acetabular bone and ligaments. The labrum serves to provide joint stability, absorb shock, lubricate the joint, and distribute pressure.[9]

Summary of Potential Pathologies at the Hip:[edit | edit source]

  • Labral tears: Common mechanisms of injury for labral tears include but are not limited to, femoracetabular impingement, trauma, ligamentous laxity, and abnormal bone structure.[10] Labral tears may present as hip or groin pain that becomes aggravated upon sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time. Clicking or locking sensations at the hip also indicate a possible labral tear.[5]
  • Iliofemoral ligament laxity: Ligamentous laxity may include chronic groin pain, tendinitis, or vertical displacement of the femoroacetabular joint.[11] If labral function is compromised, it may lead to increased stress on the structures comprising the anterior joint capsule, resulting in iliofemoral ligament laxity[12]
  • Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI): Femoroacetabular impingement is the result of bony abnormalities of either the acetabulum (pincer-type) or the proximal femur (cam-type) or a combination of the two. Severe structural changes may lead to labral tearing.[13]
  • Cam impingement: Excess growth of the femoral head and/or neck can cause abnormal contact between the femur and acetabulum resulting in cam impingement. Cam impingement is provoked by the combined movements of hip flexion, adduction, and internal rotation and can cause progressive erosion of the articular cartilage. This condition is not always symptomatic. This condition tends to affect primarily younger, active males.[14][15][5]
  • Pincer impingement: Pincer impingement occurs when the rim of the acetabulum provides excessive coverage of the femoral head and neck.[16] When the femoral head contacts the altered socket, excess movement is allowed. The impingement can cause adverse effects such as osteoarthritis if left untreated. The demographic most susceptible to pincer impingement are middle-aged female athletes.[5]

Technique:[edit | edit source]

  1. The patient assumes a supine position.
  2. Standing beside the patient, the clinician uses his/her more cephalic hand to grasp the patient's distal anterior femur and his/her more caudal hand to grasp the distal anterior tibia.
  3. The clinician passively moves the patient’s femur through the available range of internal rotation, noting the end feel.
  4. The clinician passively moves the patient's femur through the available range of external rotation, noting the end feel.
  5. The clinician repeats the test on the contralateral side and compares results.[4]

[17]

Note: The log roll test should move the articular surface of the femoral head along the acetabulum without stressing any of the surrounding extra-articular structures.[18]

Positive Test Results:

  • The test is positive for intra-articular pathology if the patient reports pain during the test, especially pain localized in the anterior groin.[5][3][19]
  • Noticeable joint hyper-mobility or increased external rotation range of motion of the hip indicates iliofemoral ligament laxity or capsular laxity.[1][2]
  • Clicking or popping during the test suggests the presence of an acetabular labral tear.[1][2]

Note: The absence of a positive log roll test does not exclude the hip as a source of symptoms.[18][20]

Evidence:[edit | edit source]

The log roll test is reported to have acceptable inter-rater reliability with a kappa coefficient of .61.[12]

Related Physiopedia Pages:[edit | edit source]

Hip Examination

Hip Anatomy

Functional Anatomy of the Hip

Labral Tear

Hip Labral Disorders

Femoroacetabular Impingement

Reference:[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Martin RL, Enseki KR, Draovitch P, Trapuzzano T, Philippon MJ. Acetabular labral tears of the hip: examination and diagnostic challenges. JOSPT. 2006;36(7):503-13. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2006.2135
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Reiman MP, Thorborg K. Clinical examination and physical assessment of hip joint-related pain in athletes. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2014;9(6):737-55. PMID: 25383243; PMCID: PMC4223284.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wong SE, Cogan CJ, Zhang AL. Physical examination of the hip: assessment of femoroacetabular impingement, labral pathology, and microinstability. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2022;15(2):38-52. doi: 10.1007/s12178-022-09745-8.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Magee DJ. Orthopedic physical assessment. 6th edition. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Dutton M. Hip Joint Complex. In: Dutton, M editor. Dutton's orthopedic examination, evaluation, and intervention. 6th edition. New York: McGraw Hill Education, 2023.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gold M, Munjal A, Varacallo M. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Hip Joint. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing, 2023. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470555/
  7. ↑ Martin HD, Savage A, Braly BA, Palmer IJ, Beall DP, Kelly B. The function of the hip capsular ligaments: a quantitative report. Arthroscopy 2008;24:188-195
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Petersen W, Petersen F, Tillmann B. Structure and vascularization of the acetabular labrum with regard to the pathogenesis and healing of labral lesions. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2003 Jul;123(6):283-8. doi: 10.1007/s00402-003-0527-7.
  9. ↑ Ferguson SJ, Bryant JT, Ganz R. The influence of the acetabular labrum on hip joint cartilage consolidation: a poroelastic finite element model. J Biomech. 2000;33(8):953–60.
  10. ↑ Su T, Chen GX, Yang L. Diagnosis and treatment of labral tear. Chin Med J. 2019;132(2): 211–219
  11. ↑ Philippon MJ, Bolia I, Locks R, Briggs K. Microinstability of the hip: a previously unrecognized pathology. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2016;6(3):354–360. https://doi.org/10.11138/mltj/2016.6.3.354
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Martin RL, Sekiya JK. The interrater reliability of 4 clinical tests used to assess individuals with musculoskeletal hip pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008;38(2):71–77. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2008.2677
  13. ↑ Ejnisman L, Ricioli Júnior W, Queiroz MC, Vicente JR, Croci AT, Polesello GC. Femoroacetabular impingement and acetabular labral tears - part 1: pathophysiology and biomechanics. Rev Bras Ortop. 2020;55(5):518–22. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1702964
  14. ↑ Ganz R, Parvizi J, Beck M, Leunig M, Notzli H, Siebenrock KA. Femoroacetabular impingement: a cause for osteoarthritis of the hip. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003;417:112-20. doi: 10.1097/01.blo.0000096804.78689.c2
  15. ↑ Byrd JW, Jones KS. Arthroscopic femoroplasty in the management of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009;467(3):739-46. doi: 10.1007/s11999-008-0659-8.
  16. ↑ Philippon MJ, Stubbs AJ, Schenker ML, Maxwell RB, Ganz R, Leunig M. Arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement: osteoplasty technique and literature review. Am J Sports Med. 2007 Sep;35(9):1571-80. doi: 10.1177/0363546507300258
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Moffett S, Nichols B, Clark A, Wragg J. Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. 2024.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Byrd JW. Evaluation of the hip: history and physical examination. N Am J Sports Phys Ther. 2007;2(4):231-40. PMID: 21509142; PMCID: PMC2953301.
  19. ↑ Wichman D, Rasio JP, Looney A, Nho SJ. Physical examination of the hip. Sports Health. 2021;13(2):149-53. doi: 10.1177/1941738120953418.
  20. ↑ Domb BG, Brooks AG, Byrd JW. Clinical examination of the hip joint in athletes. J Sport Rehabil. 2009;18(1):3-23. doi:10.1123/jsr.18.1.3
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