In hip abduction gravity minimized testing, what is the position of the tested hip?

In hip abduction gravity minimized testing, what is the position of the tested hip?

• A. The hip is in slight external rotation with the knee extended.
• B. The hip is abducted to 25 degrees with the knee extended.
• C. The hip is neutral with the knee extended.
• D. The hip is in slight external rotation and abduction beyond 25 degrees.

Answer: (A)

In gravity-minimized testing for hip abduction, you want the limb in a position where gravity doesn’t help or hinder the movement, so the muscle’s true strength can be isolated. Positioning the tested hip in slight external rotation with the knee extended accomplishes that by aligning the gluteus medius’s line of pull for abduction while reducing the contribution of other muscles such as the tensor fasciae latae and sartorius that can kick in with internal rotation or hip flexion. Keeping the knee straight also prevents involvement of muscles that would recruit flexion or other motions, and stabilizing the pelvis minimizes compensatory movement from the trunk. This combination makes the hip abductors the primary contributors in the test, which is why this position is chosen.

In gravity-minimized testing for hip abduction, you want the limb in a position where gravity doesn’t help or hinder the movement, so the muscle’s true strength can be isolated. Positioning the tested hip in slight external rotation with the knee extended accomplishes that by aligning the gluteus medius’s line of pull for abduction while reducing the contribution of other muscles such as the tensor fasciae latae and sartorius that can kick in with internal rotation or hip flexion. Keeping the knee straight also prevents involvement of muscles that would recruit flexion or other motions, and stabilizing the pelvis minimizes compensatory movement from the trunk. This combination makes the hip abductors the primary contributors in the test, which is why this position is chosen.