Mennells Test
Other Names
- Mennells Sign
- Mennell's Sign
- Mennells Test
- Three-Phases Test
- Sacroiliac Joint Stress Test
- SI Joint Stress Test
- Posterior Pelvic Stress Test
- Three phase hyperextension test
Purpose
- Evaluate the sacroiliac joint as a cause of the patients back pain
- Originally developed by James Mennell to test for spondyloarthopathies
Description
Classive Extension Test
- The patient lies in prone position
- The examiner passively lifts the straight leg into hip extension
- Simultaneously, manually apply pressure on the sacroiliac (SI) joint
- Positive Test
- Patient experiences pain in the hip
Three Phases Test
- Attempts to distinguish lumbar spine, SI joint and hip
- The patient is in the prone position
- Examiner lifts ipsilateral leg with inward rotation by reaching underneath the medial thigh
- For the hip joint, apply pressure to the ischial tuberosity
- For the sacroiliac joint, apply pressure directly to the joint
- For the lumbar spine, fixatoin of the vertebrae in ventral-caudal position
Lateral Decibutus Position
- Patient is in lateral decibutus position, affected side up
- Patient flexes the hip and knee to 90 degrees, ankle is netural
- Examiner places one ohand on the patients shoulder to stabilize the upper body
- The other hand grasps the ankle
- Slowly lift the patients leg while keeping the knee flexed until you feel resistance or the patient experiences pain
- Hold the leg in this position, then lower it back down
- Repeat the test with the limb in extension, and then again on the opposite side
Pathology
Evidence
- Sadowska-Wroblewska et al[4]
- Sensitivity: 34%
- Specificity: 88%
See Also
References
Created by:
John Kiel on 3 July 2025 19:22:01
Authors:
Last edited:
15 February 2026 23:26:02
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