McConnell’s Test

Testing for:
Patellofemoral Tracking problems

Procedure:

Part I:

• Patient is seated with legs hanging over the end of the table
• Therapist sits in front of the patient
• Therapist instructs patient to externally rotate the femur of the affected leg while performing active resisted isometric contractions of the quadriceps muscles at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 degrees of flexion.
• Therapist notes the painful degrees/ ranges

Part II:

• Therapist passively brings the patient’s knee to full extension, resting the heel on something so the patient relaxes the quadriceps muscles
• then, Therapist glides the affected patella medially and hold the patella it in that position
• Therapist instructs patient to perform isometric contractions at the knee ranges that were painful before

Part III:

• Therapist passively brings the patient’s knee to full extension, resting the heel on something so the patient relaxes the quadriceps muscles
• then, Therapist glides the affected patella laterally and hold the patella it in that position
• Therapist instructs patient to perform isometric contractions at the knee ranges that were painful before

Positive Test:

• Pain decreases significantly after holding patella medially = patellofemoral lateral tracking problems and/or
• Pain decreases significantly after holding patella laterally = patellofemoral medial tracking problems