Ober's Test: How to Check for IT Band Tightness

Ober's Test is a common orthopedic test for the hip, used by physiotherapists to assess for tightness of the Iliotibial (IT) Band and the Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) muscle, which can cause hip or knee pain.

1. Purpose

The primary purpose of Ober's Test is to **test for** tightness of the Iliotibial (IT) Band and the Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) muscle. A tight IT band can be a source of lateral hip or knee pain (IT Band Syndrome).

2. How to Perform

1. The patient is positioned in sidelying, with the test leg on top.
2. The patient's bottom hip and knee should be flexed (e.g., to 90/90) to stabilize the pelvis and flatten the lumbar spine.
3. The examiner stands behind the patient and stabilizes the pelvis with one hand.
4. With the other hand, the examiner supports the test leg under the knee.
5. The examiner passively abducts and slightly extends the test leg's hip. The knee is flexed to 90 degrees.
6. While maintaining neutral hip rotation, the examiner slowly lowers (adducts) the test leg toward the table, letting gravity pull it down.

3. Positive & Negative Sign

Positive Sign (Test is POSITIVE):
A positive test (indicating tightness) is:

• The test leg remains abducted (it does not drop down toward the table).
• This indicates that the IT Band and/or TFL are tight and are restricting the hip's adduction range of motion.

Negative Sign (Test is NEGATIVE):
A negative test (indicating normal length) is:

• The test leg easily and smoothly adducts, dropping down toward the table (or at least past the midline).