In medicine, Clarke's test (also known as the Osmond-Clarke test or patellar grind test) is a component of

knee examination The knee examination, in medicine and physiotherapy, is performed as part of a physical examination, or when a patient presents with knee pain or a history that suggests a pathology of the knee joint. The exam includes several parts: *position/ligh ...

which may be used to test for

patellofemoral pain syndrome Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS; not to be confused with jumper's knee) is knee pain as a result of problems between the kneecap and the femur. The pain is generally in the front of the knee and comes on gradually. Pain may worsen with sittin ...

chondromalacia patellae Chondromalacia patellae (also known as CMP) is an inflammation of the underside of the patella and softening of the cartilage. The cartilage under the kneecap is a natural shock absorber, and overuse, injury, and many other factors can cause inc ...

, patellofemoral

arthritis Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In som ...

, or anterior knee pain. It is not a standard part of the knee examination but is used to diagnose anterior knee pain where the history indicates this as the likely pathology. The patient is asked to actively contract the quadriceps muscle while the examiner's hand exerts pressure on the

superior Superior may refer to: *Superior (hierarchy), something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind Places *Superior (proposed U.S. state), an unsuccessful proposal for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to form a separate state *Lake ...

pole of the

patella The patella, also known as the kneecap, is a flat, rounded triangular bone which articulates with the femur (thigh bone) and covers and protects the anterior articular surface of the knee joint. The patella is found in many tetrapods, such as m ...

, so trying to prevent the

proximal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...

movement of the patella. While it can produce some discomfort even in normal people, the reproduction of the symptoms suggest pain of patellofemoral origin.Porter S. "Tidy's Physiotherapy15: Tidy's Physiotherapy". Elsevier 2013. Evidence for the validity of Clarke's test is limited and some sources claim the test is not clinically useful, though it remains prevalent in clinical practice.

References

Examination of the knee Medical assessment and evaluation instruments {{Orthopedics-stub

See also

References