Physical Exam Signs

Front 1

Tinel's sign

Back 1

paresthesia caused by light tapping over the carpal tunnel

Front 2

Phalen’s sign

Back 2

paresthesia caused by holding both wrists in 90º flexion for > 60 seconds

Front 3

Cozen’s test

Back 3

dorsiflexion of the wrist against resistance – pain in the area of the lateral epicondyle is considered a positive test

Front 4

Cozen’s test indicates what?

Back 4

Lateral epicondylitis- tennis elbow

Front 5

Tinel's sign indicates what?

Back 5

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Front 6

Phalen’s sign indicates what?

Back 6

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Front 7

Patrick’s maneuver

Back 7

With patient supine, the hip and knee are flexed and the external malleolus is placed above the patella of the opposite leg. If groin pain is elicited when the knee is depressed, the test is positive

Front 8

Patrick’s maneuver indicates what?

Back 8

Anterior hip problems

Front 9

Bulge sign

Back 9

With knee extended, “milk” fluid downward, apply medial pressure, and then tap the knee behind lateral margin and watch for a fluid wave

Front 10

Balloon sign

Back 10

Place the thumb and index finger of your right hand on each side of the patella and compress the suprapatellar pouch against the femur with your left hand. Feel for fluid entering the spaces next to the patella

Front 11

Bulge sign indicates what?

Back 11

Knee effusion

Front 12

Balloon sign indicates what?

Back 12

Knee effusion

Front 13

Anterior drawer test

Back 13

With knee in 90º of flexion, draw tibia forward and see if it slides

Front 14

Lachman’s test

Back 14

With knee in 20º of flexion, draw tibia forward and see if it slides. (more sensitive than anterior drawer test)

Front 15

Posterior drawer test

Back 15

With knee in 90º of flexion, push tibia backwards and see if it slides

Front 16

Sag sign

Back 16

With distal thigh supported by a pillow and foot on table, tibia subluxes backward and anterior aspect of leg appears to sag

Front 17

Lachman’s test indicates what?

Back 17

ACL tear

Front 18

Sag sign indicates what?

Back 18

PCL tear

Front 19

Valgus deformity

Back 19

indicates MCL tear

Front 20

Varus deformity

Back 20

indicates LCL tear

Front 21

Unhappy triad

Back 21

ACL, MCL, Medial meniscus

Front 22

Ankle anterior drawer test

Back 22

Stabilize the ankle with one hand, grasp the heel with the other, and draw the heel forward. Assess for pain

Front 23

Talar tilt

Back 23

Stabilize the ankle with one hand, grasp the heel with the other, and invert the foot. Assess for pain

Front 24

Ankle anterior drawer test indicates what?

Back 24

injury to the anterior talofibular ligament

Front 25

Talar tilt indicates what?

Back 25

injury to the calcaneofibular ligament

Front 26

Blumberg’s sign

Back 26

Rebound tenderness

Front 27

Schamroth’s sign

Back 27

Clubbing of fingers

Front 28

Bow string test

Back 28

put finger on hamstring-> stretch-> sciatica brings pain

Front 29

Psoas sign

Back 29

Pain on passive extension of the right thigh while the patient lies on left side

Front 30

Psoas sign indicates what?

Back 30

Appendicitis

Front 31

Obturator Sign

Back 31

Pain on flexion of the patient’s right thigh at the hip with the knee flexed and then internally rotating the hip and observing for pain

Front 32

Rovsing’s Sign

Back 32

Pain on palpating deeply in the left iliac area and observing for referred pain in the right iliac fossa

Front 33

Murphy’s Sign

Back 33

Hook your fingers under the right costal margin. Have the patient take a deep breath and look for a sudden stop in inspiration. Sudden stoppage is a positive Murphy Sign

Front 34

Obturator Sign indicates what?

Back 34

Appendicitis

Front 35

Rovsing’s Sign indicates what?

Back 35

Appendicitis

Front 36

Murphy’s Sign indicates what?

Back 36

Cholecystitis