Helfet’s Test

Testing for:
The dynamic rotary function of the Tibia (possible torn meniscus or injured cruciate ligament)

Procedure:

• Patient is seated, with their legs hanging over the edge of the table
• Patient’s knees flexed to 90° (so the tibial tuberosity is perpendicular to the midline of the patella)
• Therapist slowly extend the patient’s knee
• As the knee is slowly extended, the Therapist observes the relative alignment of the tibial tuberosity to the midline of the patella.
• (Therapist can also palpate the movement of the tibial tuberosity).
  * Since the medial femoral condyle is about 1 cm. longer than the lateral femoral condyle, the tibia first moves over the available lateral condyle surface and then must rotate laterally when we extend the knee.

* it’s impossible to perform helfet’s test if there is knee joint effusion

Positive Sign:
Absense of slight lateral tibial motion = this positive sign may indicate that a torn meniscus or injured cruciate ligament is physically blocking the knee extension.