How should you position a patient for hip flexor MMT?

How should you position a patient for hip flexor MMT?

• A. Supine with pelvis stabilized; the examiner resists hip flexion as the patient lifts the thigh
• B. Prone with pelvis rotated
• C. Seated with knee flexed
• D. Sidelying with leg extended

Answer: (A)

Positioning for hip flexor testing focuses on isolating the hip flexors while preventing movements of the pelvis or spine that could compensate. Lying on the back with the pelvis stabilized does exactly that: as the patient actively lifts the thigh to flex the hip, the examiner counters with resistance on the thigh. Stabilizing the pelvis stops anterior tilt or lumbar movement from helping the motion, so the strength measured comes from the hip flexors themselves (primarily the iliopsoas, with rectus femoris contributing). Other positions either don’t provide a stable way to apply resistance, open the door to substitution from trunk or pelvis muscles, or place the hip in a configuration where the test isn’t testing the hip flexors cleanly.

Positioning for hip flexor testing focuses on isolating the hip flexors while preventing movements of the pelvis or spine that could compensate. Lying on the back with the pelvis stabilized does exactly that: as the patient actively lifts the thigh to flex the hip, the examiner counters with resistance on the thigh. Stabilizing the pelvis stops anterior tilt or lumbar movement from helping the motion, so the strength measured comes from the hip flexors themselves (primarily the iliopsoas, with rectus femoris contributing). Other positions either don’t provide a stable way to apply resistance, open the door to substitution from trunk or pelvis muscles, or place the hip in a configuration where the test isn’t testing the hip flexors cleanly.