Elys Test
Other Names
- Ely Test
- Duncan-Ely Test
- Ely's Test
- Ely's prone test
- Duncan Ely’s Test
- Rectus Femoris Contracture Test
- Prone Knee Flexion Test
- Rectus Femoris Tightness Test
- Prone Rectus Test
Purpose
- Assess Rectus Femoris and hip flexor spasticity or tightness
Description
- The patient lays prone on the examination table
- One hand is placed on the patients lower back, the other on the ipsilateral ankle
- Passively flex the knee towards the buttocks, testing both sides
- Positive Test:
- Heel can not touch buttocks
- The affected hip raises off the table
- The patient feels pain or tingling in the back of their legs
Pathology
- Rectus Femoris Spascticity
- Iliopsoas Tightness, associated with Hip Flexor Tendonitis
Evidence
Rectus Femoris Spascticity
- Marks et al[4]
- Sensitivity: 56% - 59%
- Specificity: 64% - 85%
See Also
References
- ↑ Manske, Robert C., and George J. Davies. "Examination of the patellofemoral joint." International journal of sports physical therapy 11.6 (2016): 831.
- ↑ Kay, Robert M., et al. "Distal rectus femoris surgery in children with cerebral palsy: results of a Delphi consensus project." Journal of children's orthopaedics 15.3 (2021): 270-278.
- ↑ Mahran, Mahmoud A., Walid Abdel Ghany, and Mohamed Abdel Rahman Nada. "Spasticity and Gait." Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine: A Handbook for Primary Care Physicians. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020. 293-311.
- ↑ Marks M C, Alexander J, Sutherland D H, Chambers H G. (2003) Clinical utility of the Duncan-Ely test for rectus femoris dysfunction during the swing phase of gait. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 2003, 45: 763–768
Created by:
John Kiel on 17 July 2019 00:17:11
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Last edited:
20 October 2025 00:57:57
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