During hip abduction strength testing, resistance is applied to which area?

During hip abduction strength testing, resistance is applied to which area?

• A. At the medial thigh
• B. At the pelvis
• C. At the distal leg
• D. At the lateral thigh

Answer: (C)

When testing hip abduction with resisted ROM, you want to oppose the leg’s outward movement by applying force far from the hip joint. Applying resistance to the distal leg creates a longer lever arm about the hip axis, producing greater torque for a given force and helping to reveal weakness in the hip abductors (gluteus medius/minimus) while keeping the movement focused on abduction. If resistance were applied at the pelvis, trunk and pelvic stabilizers would come into play, muddying which muscles are being tested. Applying resistance at the medial thigh tends to challenge adduction more than abduction, which isn’t ideal for isolating the abductors. While the lateral thigh can test abduction, it provides a shorter lever arm and can be less consistent in isolating the hip abductors.

When testing hip abduction with resisted ROM, you want to oppose the leg’s outward movement by applying force far from the hip joint. Applying resistance to the distal leg creates a longer lever arm about the hip axis, producing greater torque for a given force and helping to reveal weakness in the hip abductors (gluteus medius/minimus) while keeping the movement focused on abduction.

If resistance were applied at the pelvis, trunk and pelvic stabilizers would come into play, muddying which muscles are being tested. Applying resistance at the medial thigh tends to challenge adduction more than abduction, which isn’t ideal for isolating the abductors. While the lateral thigh can test abduction, it provides a shorter lever arm and can be less consistent in isolating the hip abductors.