Location of pain
Mechanism of injury
Foot fixation
Associated sounds or sensations
Onset of injury
Prior history of injury
Inspection
Girth measurements
Anterior structures
Alignment of patella
Patellar malalignment or dislocation (shifting of patella away from its central position on trochlea)
Ruptured patellar tendon (A unilaterally high-riding patella, when accompanied by spasm of the quadriceps muscle group)
Patellar tendon
Quadriceps muscle group
Alignment of the femur on the tibia
Genu valgum (“Knock knees” angle of less than 180 degrees)
Genu carum (“bowlegs” angle greater than 195 degrees)
Genu recurvatum (hyperextension)
Tibial tuberosity
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Medial Structures
Oblique fibers of vastus medialis
Lateral structures
Fibular head
Posterior tibial sag (Posterior cruciate ligament deficiency)
Hyperextension
Posterior structures
Hamstring group
Popliteal fossa (Popliteal cyst/ Baker’s cyst)
Palpation
Anterior structures
Patella
Patellar tendon
Tibial tuberosity
Quadriceps muscle group
Sartorius
Medial structures
Joint line/meniscus
Medial collateral ligament
Medial femoral condyle and epicondyle
Medial tibial plateau
Pes anserine tendon and bursa
Semitendinosus tendon
Gracilis
Lateral structures
Joint line/meniscus
Fibular head
Lateral collateral ligament
Popliteus tendon
Biceps femoris
Iliotibial band
Posterior structures
Popliteal fossa
Hamstring muscle group
Determination of intracapsular versus extracapsular swelling
Sweep test (Swelling within the joint capsule)
Ballotable patella
Range of Motion Tests
AROM, PROM(flexion and extension), RROM (flexion, extension, isolating the sartorius)
Ligamentous Tests
ACL Instability
Anterior drawer test
Lackman's test
Alternate (Modified) Lackman's test
PCL Instability
Posterior drawer test
Godfrey's test
MCL Instability
Valgus stress test
LCL Instability
Varus stress test
Proximal tibiofibular sydesmosis
Tibiofibular translation test
Neurologic Tests
Peroneal nerve
Femoral nerve
Sciatic nerve
Lumbar nerve roots
Sacral nerve roots
Special Tests
Rotary knee instability
Slocum drawer test
Crossover test
Pivot shift test
Slocum ALRI test
Flexion-Rotation drawer test
Meniscal tears
McMarry's test
Appley's compression test
Appley’s distraction test
ITB friction syndrome
Noble's compression test
Ober's test (for iliotibial band tightness)
Osteochondral Defects of the knee
Wilson’s test
Criteria for Return to Competition
Co-contraction test, carioca test, and shuttle run test