Valgus stress test

Valgus stress test

The valgus stress test or medial stress test is a test for damage to the medial collateral ligament of the knee. It involves placing the leg into extension, with one hand placed as a pivot on the knee. With the other hand placed upon the foot applying an abducting force, an attempt is then made to force the leg at the knee into valgus. If the knee is seen to open up on the medial side, this is indicative of medial collateral ligament damage and may also indicate capsular or cruciate ligament laxity.^[1]^[2]

There are two versions of this test: valgus at 0 degrees and valgus at 30 degrees. When performing the test at 30 degrees, the MCL is the primary stabilizer; the joint capsule is also tested. When tested at 0 degrees, the MCL, medial joint capsule, and anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are stressed.

References

^ "Valgus Stress Test".
^ Margheritini, Fabrizio. Orthopedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. Elsevier. p. 327.

Musculoskeletal examination

Leg

Hip examination	Galeazzi test Allis test Barlow maneuver Ober's test Ortolani test Patrick's test Thomas test Trendelenburg's sign
Knee examination	Ballottement Clarke's test Drawer test Lachman test Patellar tap Pivot-shift test Valgus stress test meniscus Apley grind test McMurray test ligament and meniscus Unhappy triad
Foot and ankle	Hubscher's maneuver Mulder's sign Thompson test
General	Straight leg raise Lasègue's sign Gait abnormality Trendelenburg gait Unequal leg length Gower's sign

Arm

Shoulder examination	Apprehension test Jobe's test Neer Impingement Test Yergason's test rotator cuff Hawkins–Kennedy test Watson's test
Elbow examination	Cozen's test Elbow extension test
Hand and wrist	Durkan's test Finkelstein's test Froment's sign Lunotriquetral shear test Phalen maneuver Tinel sign Watson's test
General	Bethlem sign