What position should the patient be in to perform the Ely Sign test?

• A. Supine
• B. Prone
• C. Sitting
• D. Standing

Answer: (B)

The Ely Sign test is performed to assess for tightness of the rectus femoris muscle, which is one of the quadriceps muscles. For this test, the patient is positioned prone, meaning they lie face down on the examination table. This position allows the examiner to flex one knee while observing the response of the hip on the same side.

When the examiner flexes the knee, if the hip rises off the table or the patient experiences pain or discomfort, it indicates tightness in the rectus femoris. If the patient were in a supine or sitting position, it would not provide the appropriate mechanics to assess the hip flexion response resulting from rectus femoris tightness effectively. In a standing position, the test would also fail to adequately isolate the rectus femoris and create the necessary conditions to detect tightness. Thus, the prone position is essential for accurately performing the Ely Sign test and interpreting its results correctly.