Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Practice Test

Which special test would be most appropriate to assess the hip pain in this athlete?

1. Ober's test

2. Single leg balance

3. Thomas test

4. FABER test

The correct answer is: FABER test

The FABER test, also known as the Patrick's test, is the most appropriate choice for assessing hip pain in this athlete because it specifically evaluates the hip joint's function and can help identify issues with hip mobility, pain, and potential pathology involving the hip or surrounding soft tissues. This test involves placing the patient's foot on the opposite knee and gently pressing down on the knee while stabilizing the opposite hip to assess for pain and range of motion. In cases of hip pain, the FABER test can help determine if the origin of discomfort is related to the hip joint itself, the sacroiliac joint, or other areas in the pelvic region. A positive result may indicate an underlying hip condition, such as hip impingement, labral tear, or arthritis. Assessing the hip with this specific test can provide valuable diagnostic insight into the athlete's condition. Other tests, while useful for different purposes, do not focus on hip joint assessment as specifically as the FABER test does. For example, Ober's test primarily evaluates iliotibial band tightness, the Thomas test assesses hip flexor tightness, and single leg balance tests might provide insight into overall stability but are not specific to hip pathology. Therefore, the FABER test stands