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Test: Sartorius - Muscle Test
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Background/Purpose
Muscle action: Hip flexion, abduction, and external rotation combined with knee flexion (the "figure-4" or "tailor's" position).
Procedure
Patient position: Supine, with the leg to be tested placed in the "figure-4" position — hip flexed, abducted, and externally rotated, knee flexed, with the heel resting near the opposite knee (or lower shin).
Stabilization: Stabilize the pelvis (opposite ASIS) to prevent trunk rotation/substitution.
Test procedure:
Ask the patient to hold the position (hip flexed/abducted/externally rotated, knee flexed) against resistance.
Apply resistance in two directions simultaneously: toward hip extension/adduction/internal rotation at the distal thigh (just above the knee), and toward knee extension at the distal leg (above the ankle).
Instruct the patient to resist both forces at once, maintaining the figure-4 position.
Grading (0–5 standard scale):
5/Normal: Holds test position against maximal resistance in both directions.
4/Good: Holds against moderate resistance.
3/Fair: Completes full range (assumes/holds the figure-4 position) against gravity only, no resistance tolerated.
2/Poor: Completes partial range or full range with gravity eliminated (e.g., side-lying, leg supported).
1/Trace: Palpable/visible contraction at the muscle belly (medial to the sartorius line along the anteromedial thigh) with no joint motion.
0/Zero: No palpable contraction.
Common substitutions to watch for: Tensor fasciae latae/iliopsoas substituting for hip flexion-abduction without knee flexion; hamstrings substituting for knee flexion without hip involvement; trunk rotation to assist external rotation.
Palpation point: Along the anteromedial thigh, tracing from the ASIS diagonally toward the medial knee (pes anserinus insertion).
Performed: Unilaterally
Dialog
Supine, with the leg to be tested placed in the "figure-4" positionCriteria
- Maximal effort and full strength
- No pain
Measurement
LOINC Code
80322-1Scale/Grading
selection range; grade - LOINC IDTest Stats
-
Side Pass Fail Left 0 0 Right 0 0 Avg. Measure. Left 0.0 0.0 Avg. Measure. - Right 0.0 0.0