patellar grind test; Clarke's test; Osmond-Clarke test

Indications

• detection of patellofemoral joint disorders
  • patellofemoral pain syndrome
  • chondromalacia patellae
  • patellofemoral degenerative joint disease

Procedure

• examiner stands on involved side
• patient is supine, knee extended
• examiner places web space of hand just superior to the patella & applies pressure

or

• examiner places web space of thumb on the superior border of the patella & applies downward pressure on the patella
• patient gradually contracts the quadriceps

Interpretation

• pain in the patellofemoral joint is a positive test

* procedure can produce some pain in normal people

More general terms

• physical examination of the knee