Healthcare Provider’s Perspectives Regarding The Usefulness Of Orthopedic Tests

Shawn Hatch, DC, CCSPa ; William J Moreau, DC, DACBSPb ; a Contemporary Chiropractic, Vancouver, WA, b USOC Director of Sports Medicine Clinics, Colorado Springs, CO.

OBJECTIVE: To identify healthcare provider’s perspectives on which orthopedic tests are best for diagnosing certain lesions by anatomical region.

METHODS: A survey was sent to healthcare providers including MDs, DOs, DCs, PTs, and ATCs. The survey asked the providers to identify which orthopedic test or tests they have found to be most useful in diagnosing the following lesions: glenohumeral labral tear, subacromial impingement, glenohumeral instability, acromioclavicular joint injury, anterior cruciate ligament injury, posterior cruciate ligament injury, meniscus injury, and patellofemoral injury. The survey was emailed to 150 DCs, 150 MDs, 150 DOs, 150 PTs and 150 ATCs.

RESULTS: 62 providers completed the survey including 20 PTs, 17 DOs, 11 MDs, 8 ATCs, and 6 DCs. The following tests were reported to be most useful by the highest number of providers: Obrien for glenohumeral labral tears, Hawkins/Kennedy for subacromial impingement, Apprehension for glenohumeral instability, Horizontal Adduction for acromioclavicular joint injury, Lachman for anterior cruciate ligament injury, Posterior Drawer for posterior cruciate ligament injury, McMurray for meniscus injury, Patellar Grind for patellofemoral injury. The responses by each profession were consistent with the overall results.

CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of those who participated in this survey, the following tests are most useful for the listed injuries: Obrien for glenohumeral labral tears, Hawkins Kennedy for subacromial impingement, Apprehension for glenohumeral instability, Horizontal Adduction for acromioclavicular injury, Lachman for ACL injury, Posterior Drawer for PCL injury, McMurray for meniscus injury, Patellar Grind for patellofemoral injury.