Ober’s Test
What is the "Ober's Test" used for?
- The Ober’s test evaluates a tight, contracted or inflamed Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) and Iliotibial band (ITB).
How to perform the "Ober's Test"?
- The patient should be in side-lying with the affected side up.
- Bottom knee and hip should be flexed to flatten the lumbar curve.
- Stand behind the patient and firmly stabilize the pelvis/greater trochanter to prevent movement in any direction.
- Grasp the distal end of the patient’s affected leg with your other hand and flex the leg to a right angle at the knee
- Extend and abduct the hip joint.
- Slowly lower the leg toward the table -adduct hip- until motion is restricted.
- Ensure that the hip does not internally rotate and flex during the test and the pelvis must be stabilized. As allowing the thigh to drop in flexion and internal rotation would ‘give in’ to the tight TFL and not accurately test the length
What is the positive result?
- If the ITB is normal, the leg will adduct with the thigh dropping down slightly below the horizontal and the patient won’t experience any pain; in this case, the test is called negative.
- If the ITB is tight, the leg would remain in the abducted position and the patient would experience lateral knee pain, in this case, the test is called positive.
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