Fitzgerald Test

Original Editor - Rachael Lowe Top Contributors - Rachael Lowe, Wendy Snyders and Rucha Gadgil

Purpose[edit | edit source]

The Fitzgerald test utilises two different test positions to determine if the patient has an anterior or posterior labral tear.

Technique[edit | edit source]

Anterior labrum

The patient lies supine while the physical therapist (PT) performs flexion, external rotation, and full abduction of the hip, followed by hip extension, internal rotation, and adduction[1][2].

Posterior labrum

The patient lies supine while the PT performs passive extension, abduction and external rotation from a fully flexed, internally rotated and adducted hip[1][2].

The test is considered to be positive if pain is produced with or without an audible click[1] [2].

[3]

Sensitivity and specificity[edit | edit source]

The Fitzgerald test has been shown to have a sensitivity of between 0.98 and 1.00[1][2]. The specificity is unknown[1][2].

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Leiboid M, Huijbregts P, Jensen R. Concurrent Criterion-Related Validity of Physical Examination Tests for Hip Labral Lesions: A Systematic Review. The Journal of Manual Manipulative Therapy. [online]. 2008;16(2):E24-41.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Burgess RM, Rushton A, Wright C, Daborn C. The validity and accuracy of clinical diagnostic tests used to detect labral pathology of the hip: a systematic review. Manual therapy. 2011 Aug 1;16(4):318-26.
  3. Fitzgerald's Test. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyXW-ExBiOM