Test Name Key Words Description
McMurray Test
Supine, heel, flex knee, medial joint
line, external rotate, valgus stress,
click, tenderness
With patient supine, grasp the heel and flex the knee. Rotate
leg and apply valgus stress, extend lower leg. Click or
tenderness indicates meniscus tear.
Abduction
(Valgus) Stress
Test
Supine, slight flex, lateral knee,
medial ankle, valgus stress,
widening
With patient supine, knee slightly flexed, move thigh
laterally. Push medially at knee, pull laterally at ankle.
Widening indicates ligament injury.
Adduction
(Varus) Stress
Test
Supine, slight flex, medial knee,
lateral ankle, varus stress,
widening
With patient supine, knee slightly flexed, change position,
push laterally at knee, pull medially at ankle. Widening
indicates ligament injury.
Anterior Drawer
Sign
Supine, hips flexed, knees 90°, feet
flat, joint line, hamstrings, tibia
forward, drawer
With patient supine, hips and knees flexed, feet flat. Cup
knee with thumbs on joint line, sit on foot, draw tibia
forward. Excessive movement indicates ACL tear.
Lachman Test 15° flexion, external rotation,
femur, tibia forward, firm endpoint
Place knee in 15° flexion, mild external rotation. Grasp
distal femur and proximal tibia, pull tibia forward, femur
back. Lack of firm endpoint indicates ACL tear.
Posterior Drawer
Sign
Supine, hips flexed, knees 90°, feet
flat, joint line, hamstrings, tibia
backward
With patient supine, hips and knees flexed, feet flat. Cup
knee with thumbs on joint line, sit on foot, push tibia
posteriorly. Excessive movement indicates PCL tear.
