SCS Clinical Examination & Diagnosis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a functional movement screen, an athlete demonstrates a positive active straight leg raise (ASLR) bilaterally. Which primary impairment does this pattern suggest?
- Hamstring flexibility deficit
- Hip flexor tightness
- Core stabilization and contralateral hip mobility deficit (Correct answer)
- Lumbar extension restriction
Correct answer: Core stabilization and contralateral hip mobility deficit
The ASLR assesses the ability to dissociate the lower extremity while maintaining core stability; a bilateral positive indicates inadequate core stabilization and restricted hip mobility.
Question 2: A basketball player reports lateral knee pain after pivoting. On examination, McMurray's test produces a palpable clunk at 90° of flexion with external tibial rotation. Which structure is most likely injured?
- Anterior cruciate ligament
- Lateral collateral ligament
- Medial meniscus (Correct answer)
- Lateral meniscus
Correct answer: Medial meniscus
McMurray's with external tibial rotation at 90° flexion producing a clunk localizes to the medial meniscus, as rotation compresses the posteromedial compartment.
Question 3: When performing the Thessaly test for meniscal pathology, at which degree of knee flexion is the test most sensitive?
- 5°
- 20° (Correct answer)
- 40°
- 60°
Correct answer: 20°
The Thessaly test performed at 20° of knee flexion with axial loading and rotational stress has the highest reported sensitivity for meniscal tears.
Question 4: An athlete presents with shoulder pain and a positive Kim test. This finding is most specific for which pathology?
- Superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear
- Posteroinferior labral tear (Correct answer)
- Rotator cuff partial thickness tear
- Biceps tendon rupture
Correct answer: Posteroinferior labral tear
The Kim test applies a posteroinferior force with axial loading and is most specific for posteroinferior labral lesions causing posterior instability.
Question 5: A wrestler has a positive anterior drawer test at 20° of plantar flexion. Which ligament is primarily assessed by this test position?
- Calcaneofibular ligament
- Deltoid ligament
- Anterior talofibular ligament (Correct answer)
- Posterior talofibular ligament
Correct answer: Anterior talofibular ligament
The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is taut and best isolated in 20° of plantar flexion, making it the primary structure tested by the anterior drawer.
Question 6: Which clinical test is used to differentiate a proximal hamstring avulsion from a high hamstring tendinopathy?
- Prone knee bend
- Puranen-Orava test (Correct answer)
- Slump test
- Ober test
Correct answer: Puranen-Orava test
The Puranen-Orava test (standing hip flexion to 90° with extended knee) reproduces ischial tuberosity pain and helps differentiate proximal hamstring tendinopathy from neural or lumbar sources.
Question 7: During cervical spine assessment of a contact sport athlete, the Spurling compression test reproduces radicular symptoms into the right arm. This finding indicates likely compression of which structure?
- Left-sided nerve root
- Right-sided nerve root (Correct answer)
- Spinal cord centrally
- Vertebral artery
Correct answer: Right-sided nerve root
Spurling compression with ipsilateral lateral flexion narrows the ipsilateral neural foramen; reproduction of ipsilateral arm symptoms indicates ipsilateral nerve root compression.
SCS Clinical Examination & Diagnosis 2
During a functional movement screen, an athlete demonstrates a positive active straight leg raise (ASLR) bilaterally.
Which primary impairment does this pattern suggest?