Patellar Glide Test
Other Names
- Passive Patellar Glide Test
- Apprehensive Test
- Fairbank's Sign
- Passive Patellar Glide
- Sage Sign
- Patellar Mobility Test
- Patellar Translation Test
- Medial Patellar Glide Test
- Lateral Patellar Glide Test
- Patellar Glide Assessment
- Patellar Tracking and Glide Test
Purpose
- Evaluate the Patella as a contributor to anterior knee pain
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:
Pathology
Evidence
- Unknown
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.
- ↑ Lester, Jonathan D., Jonathan N. Watson, and Mark R. Hutchinson. "Physical Examination of." Understanding the Patellofemoral Joint: From Instability to Arthroplasty; An Issue of Clinics in Sports Medicine 33.3 (2014): 403-412.
Created by:
John Kiel on 16 February 2021 18:05:50
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Last edited:
8 April 2026 00:44:11
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