Patellar Glide Test

Other Names

Demonstration of the patellar glide test

Illustration of the patellar glide test with corresponding scoring

• Passive Patellar Glide Test
• Apprehensive Test
• Fairbank's Sign
• Passive Patellar Glide
• Sage Sign

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Purpose

• Evaluate the Patella as a contributor to anterior knee pain

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Description

• The patient is supine, knee in 30 flexion over a towel roll
• Physician uses thumbs to passively glide patella medially
• They should then passively move the thumb laterally
  • Sometimes this is termed 'fairbanks sign' or 'apprehensive test'
• It is important that the degree of patella tilt is kept constant to avoid any rotation
• Positive test
  • Degree of medial/ lateral mobility is estimated (can be broken into so-called quadrants)
  • Medial: < 1 quadrant (restricted), 2 (normal), > 3-4 (exessive)
  • Lateral:

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Pathology

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Patellar Instability

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Evidence

• Unknown

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See Also

• Physical Exam Knee
• Knee Pain (Main)

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