STOP trying to remember the names of 'special tests'...

anatomy lxo osteopathy Jul 16, 2025

STOP trying to remember the names of special tests:

Thomas test

Ober's test

Ely test

Trendelenberg's test

Lachman stress test

McMurray test

etc etc etc

They don't mean anything.....

Instead think about the ANATOMY and what is it you want to test?

For example, you suspect pathology of the long head of the biceps tendon, ask yourself what the biceps does, what movements does it make happen, what is the applied anatomy..got your answer?

So then work out a way or ways to stress the structure. You could ask the patient to flex and externally rotate their shoulder, supinate their forearm and push up against your resistance, observing and palpating the area.

Ask yourself and the patient, what you and they feel.

Then stop and think, what have you found out, what is this telling you?

You have stressed the ANATOMY by applying pressure to the tendon and its attachment to the superior labrum NOT worried about remembering ''Speeds Test''

Observe, Palpate AND think!

(By the way, give the skills of observation and palpation the credit they deserve. Don't reduce them to 'obs and palps'

)

You are an osteopath - use your knowledge of your anatomy and the skill of your hands - then work it out for yourself.

That's how you become a thinking, intelligent and extraordinary Osteopath.

This is how you will deepen your learning and understanding - because you are applying your skill and knowledge, instead of just reciting a list of tests - which give you no clue as to what they test.

If you want to improve your applied anatomy and technique skills then check out The League of Extraordinary Osteopaths.

Find out more about The League of Extraordinary Osteopaths

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STOP trying to remember the names of 'special tests'...