21/11/2025
Phelps’ Test -
Phelps’ Test helps differentiate whether limited hip abduction is caused by muscular tightness rather than joint pathology. Phelps’ Test is designed to assess contracture of the gracilis muscle, one of the medial thigh muscles responsible for hip adduction and knee flexion. Tightness of this muscle can contribute to gait abnormalities, hip mobility limitations, and problems such as crouched gait in children with neuromuscular conditions.
The gracilis is a long, thin muscle that runs along the inner thigh. It originates from the p***c bone and inserts on the medial aspect of the proximal tibia. The gracilis serves dual functions: it adducts the hip (brings the leg toward the midline) and assists in knee flexion. When the knee is extended, the gracilis functions primarily as a hip adductor, but when the knee is flexed, its tension across the hip joint is reduced.
Read More: https://orthofixar.com/special-test/phelps-test/