What action should the practitioner take after laying the patient back during the Thomas Test?

• A. Assess vital signs
• B. Straighten out the knee
• C. Measure leg length
• D. Check for hip dislocation

Answer: (B)

After laying the patient back during the Thomas Test, the appropriate action is to straighten out the knee. The Thomas Test is used to assess hip flexor tightness, particularly the iliopsoas muscle. By laying the patient back and straightening out the knee of the leg that is not being tested, the practitioner helps to isolate the motion at the hip joint and allows for a clearer assessment of hip flexor tightness in the opposite leg.

When the knee is straightened, it effectively locks the position of the pelvis and ensures that any observed movement at the hip is due to the flexibility of the hip flexors rather than compensatory movements from the knee. If the knee remains bent, it could affect the measurement and interpretation of results.

Other options, like assessing vital signs, measuring leg length, or checking for hip dislocation, are not relevant to the specific requirements of the Thomas Test. These actions do not facilitate the proper evaluation of hip flexor tightness and could distract from the primary purpose of the test, which is to evaluate the hip's range of motion and overall flexibility in relation to hip flexor tightness.