During the Standing Flexion Test protocol, what does the examiner observe?

During the Standing Flexion Test protocol, what does the examiner observe?

• A. Examiner palpates ASIS only
• B. The patient stands on one leg and bends laterally
• C. Examiner palpates both PSIS while patient flexes forward and observes relative superior movement
• D. Examiner taps the PSIS and notes movement

Answer: (C)

The standing flexion test gates on sacroiliac joint motion and uses a simple comparison of PSIS movement during forward bending. The examiner places fingers on both PSIS and watches how each point rises when the patient bends forward from the hips. In a normal pelvis, both PSIS rise together by about the same amount. If one PSIS moves noticeably higher (cephalad) than the other, that side is considered positive for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. This occurs because the sacrum rotates relative to the ilia during forward flexion, changing how each PSIS moves. So, the key observation is checking for relative superior movement of the two PSISs as the patient flexes forward.

The standing flexion test gates on sacroiliac joint motion and uses a simple comparison of PSIS movement during forward bending. The examiner places fingers on both PSIS and watches how each point rises when the patient bends forward from the hips. In a normal pelvis, both PSIS rise together by about the same amount. If one PSIS moves noticeably higher (cephalad) than the other, that side is considered positive for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. This occurs because the sacrum rotates relative to the ilia during forward flexion, changing how each PSIS moves. So, the key observation is checking for relative superior movement of the two PSISs as the patient flexes forward.