Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Muscles that Move the Leg

Muscles that Move the Leg

The movement of the legs is facilitated by numerous muscles located within the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments of the thigh.
Anterior Compartment
The quadriceps femoris, the most visible muscle of the anterior compartment, is integral for leg extension and thigh flexion. It is formed by merging four distinct muscles — the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon, a shared tendon of the four quadriceps muscles, is affixed to...

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the neck...

Knee Joint

Knee Joint

The knee joint is the most complicated joint in the body. It consists of three articulations– two tibiofemoral and one patellofemoral. As is characteristic of synovial joints, the knee joint has a thin articular capsule that partially surrounds this joint cavity. Additionally, several ligaments, muscles, and cartilaginous structures support the movement of the knee.
A total of seven ligaments support the knee joint. The patellar ligament, which is also attached to the quadriceps femoris group...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Return to Play, Performance, and Career Longevity After Shoulder Labral Repair in the National Football League: A Matched Cohort Analysis.

Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine·2026

Same author

Injury and Economic Burden of Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in Major League Baseball Pitchers: A Retrospective 11-Year Analysis (2015-2025).

Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine·2026

Same author

Response to comments on "Patient-perceived recovery after posterior spinal fusion: evaluating minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis".

Spine deformity·2026

Same author

Return to Play and Performance After Revision Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Major League Baseball Pitchers.

Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine·2026

Same author

Factors Associated With Cumulative Shoulder and Elbow Injury Burden: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 1445 Major League Baseball Pitchers (2015-2025).

Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine·2026

Same author

Patient-perceived recovery after posterior spinal fusion: evaluating minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Spine deformity·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Published on: March 24, 2023

The moving patellar apprehension test for lateral patellar instability.

Christopher S Ahmad¹, Moira McCarthy, Jaime A Gomez

¹Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Shoulder, Elbow, and Sports Medicine, New York, NY 10032, USA. Csa4@columbia.edu

The American Journal of Sports Medicine

|February 6, 2009

Summary

The moving patellar apprehension test accurately diagnoses patellar instability. This physical exam maneuver is highly sensitive and specific, improving diagnostic accuracy for knee injuries.

More Related Videos

Diagnosis of Musculus Gastrocnemius Tightness - Key Factors for the Clinical Examination

Diagnosis of Musculus Gastrocnemius Tightness - Key Factors for the Clinical Examination

Published on: July 7, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Published on: March 24, 2023

Diagnosis of Musculus Gastrocnemius Tightness - Key Factors for the Clinical Examination

Diagnosis of Musculus Gastrocnemius Tightness - Key Factors for the Clinical Examination

Published on: July 7, 2016

Area of Science:

Orthopedic surgery
Sports medicine
Diagnostic techniques

Background:

Physical examination for patellar instability often lacks accuracy.
Developing reliable diagnostic methods is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the "moving patellar apprehension test" for patellar instability.
To determine the sensitivity and specificity of this novel examination technique.

Main Methods:

A cohort study (Level 3 evidence) was conducted comparing the moving patellar apprehension test with examination under anesthesia.
The test involves specific patellar manipulations during knee flexion and extension in 51 patients.
Patient apprehension and quadriceps activation were recorded as positive indicators.

Main Results:

The moving patellar apprehension test demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (94.1%).
It achieved 100% sensitivity and 88.4% specificity when compared to examination under anesthesia.
Positive and negative predictive values were 89.2% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions:

The moving patellar apprehension test is a reliable and accurate method for diagnosing patellar instability.
Correct performance and interpretation yield highly sensitive and specific results.
This technique offers a valuable tool for orthopedic clinicians.