Kemp Test
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Description[edit | edit source]
The lumbar quadrant or Kemp’s test is a test to assess the lumbar spine facet joints. It is a provocative test to detect pain, which can be local, referred or radiculair.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title
Clinically Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The facet joints (FJ) or zygapophyseal joints play an important role in load transmission. The purpose of these FJ is to stabilize the motion segment in flexion, extension and also restricting axial rotation. They also provide a posterior load-bearing helper.
The lumbar FJ are paired, true synovial joint that comprise the posterolateral articulation between vertebral levels. The orientation of the FJ in a transverse plane varies from the upper level of the lumbar spine to the lower one.
Lumbar FJ contain hyaline cartilage, synovial membrane, fibrous capsule, and a joint space with a potential capacity of 1 to 2 mL. The existence of menisci in the lumbar FJ has been emphasized in numerous publications.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title
Purpose
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The purpose of this test is to assess the lumbar spine facet joints. Lumbar quadrant test uses the patient’s trunk both as a lever to induce tension and as a compressive force. This test is used in differentiation and diagnosis of a lumbar posterior facet syndrome, though it is nonspecific.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title4 The Lumbar quadrant test is a provocation test to detect pain. Local pain suggest a facet cause, while radiating pain into the leg is more suggestive of nerve root irritation. Especially if the pain is below the knee.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title5
Technique
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The lumbar quadrant test may be performed with the patient either in the seated or standing position.
Standing position:
1. Patient is standing before the therapist.
2. The therapist fixes the opposite ilium from the side being tested with one hand.
3. The other hand grabs the shoulder from the patient and leads the patient to extension, ipsilateral sidebending and ipsilateral rotation (3D extension movement).
4. Hold this position for three seconds.
Seated position:
1. The patient seated with arms crossed over the chest.
2. One hand of the therapist stabilize the patient’s lumbosacral region on the side to be tested.
3. The other arm controls the patient’s upper body movement.
4. The patient is passively directed into flexion, rotation, lateral flexion, and finally extension.
5. Depending on the patient’s response, axial compression may be applied in the fully extended and rotated position to increase stress on the posterior joints.
The test is positive when the patient reports pain, numbness or tingling in the area of the back or lower extremities. The pain is located on the side being tested.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive titleCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive titleCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title Local pain suggests a facet cause, while radiating pain into the leg is more suggestive of nerve root irritation. Especially if the pain is below the knee.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title
The seated position is more preferable because the therapist has more control over the patient’s positioning and there is less muscle activation.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive titleCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title
Evidence[edit | edit source]
Results showed for Lumbar quadrant test in following article: ‘Relationship of Physical Examination findings and Self-reported symptom severity and physical function in patients with degenerative lumbar conditions; Mark A Lyle, Sarah Manes, Michael McGuinness, Sarah Ziaei and Maura D Iversen; PHYS THER. 2005; 85:120-133.’ The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of symptom provocation during physical examination procedures and self-report of symptom severity and function in patients with degenerative lumbar conditions :
- The quadrant test was the strongest predictor of symptom severity
- The quadrant test distinguished those subjects with clinically meaningful low back symptom severity but was not predictive of impaired function.
- The quadrant test was the most common test that reproduced the patient’s symptoms.
- Patients who reported symptoms during the quadrant test had higher self-reported Lumbar Spinal Stenosis symptom severity scores compared with those who did not report symptoms during the quadrant testCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title.
Resources[edit | edit source]
http://videos.rehabstudents.com/lumbar-quadrant-test/
http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/85/2/120
Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
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References
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