Step down test protocol requires the patient to do which movement?

Step down test protocol requires the patient to do which movement?

• A. The patient steps slowly off a box while examiner observes knee valgus, pelvic drop and trunk control.
• B. The patient hops on one leg with eyes closed.
• C. The patient walks in a straight line heel-to-toe.
• D. The patient performs deep squats and lifts shoulders.

Answer: (A)

The movement being tested is a controlled, single-leg descent from a box. The patient steps slowly off the box, lowering the body with one leg while the examiner watches for knee valgus (the knee collapsing inward), pelvic drop, and trunk control. This task specifically challenges eccentric control and movement quality in the knee and hip in the frontal plane, along with core stability, making it a good probe of dynamic neuromuscular control and alignment. It differs from other tasks: hopping with eyes closed mainly assesses unilateral dynamic balance and plyometrics; walking in a straight line heel-to-toe tests gait balance and proprioception; and deep squats with shoulder lifts focus more on overall squat technique and upper-body mobility rather than single-leg descent mechanics with real-time limb-trunk alignment.

The movement being tested is a controlled, single-leg descent from a box. The patient steps slowly off the box, lowering the body with one leg while the examiner watches for knee valgus (the knee collapsing inward), pelvic drop, and trunk control.

This task specifically challenges eccentric control and movement quality in the knee and hip in the frontal plane, along with core stability, making it a good probe of dynamic neuromuscular control and alignment. It differs from other tasks: hopping with eyes closed mainly assesses unilateral dynamic balance and plyometrics; walking in a straight line heel-to-toe tests gait balance and proprioception; and deep squats with shoulder lifts focus more on overall squat technique and upper-body mobility rather than single-leg descent mechanics with real-time limb-trunk alignment.