Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFeeling for Fluid in the KneeArthritisTorn MeniscusACL TearOther Ligament InjuriesKneecap Problems
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Feeling for Fluid in the Knee
Arthritis
Torn Meniscus
ACL Tear
Other Ligament Injuries
Kneecap Problems
A knee examination is usually the first step in determining the cause ofknee pain. During this exam, your healthcare provider may do knee tests designed to evaluate knee function and range of motion.
This article will help you understand knee examination, and what knee tests can be performed to help your healthcare provider diagnose pain.
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Many people know if their knee is swollen—they can see or feel the swelling without any difficulty. However, not everyone knows there is excess fluid in the knee joint. Your healthcare provider may compress the joint to feel for excess fluid.
Fluid in the knee can often be visible above the kneecap and can be compressed in this area. Fluid is also often detected in the back of the knee, which if collected into a pocket of fluid is often referred to as aBaker’s cyst.
Knee Tests for Arthritis
Managing Arthritis of the Knee Joint
Torn Meniscus Knee Tests
Tests used to determine if there is a meniscus tear include:
Meniscus Tears: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
ACL Tear Knee Tests
These tests may be done for a suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear:
Symptoms and Recovery for ACL Tears
Tests for Other Ligament Injuries
For supected injury to other ligaments, including the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL), these tests may be done:
Torn Ligaments Symptoms and Treatment
Tests for Kneecap Problems
Tests for problems with the kneecap include:
Symptoms and Treatment of Different Types of Kneecap Injuries
Summary
Different knee tests may be done during a medical exam to help your healthcare provider find the cause of your knee pain. These tests look for conditions and injuries such as arthritis, meniscus and ACL tears, other ligament injuries, and kneecap problems.
Knee tests typically check for range of motion, pain, and sounds that could indicate you have a specific type of knee injury.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Frush TJ, Noyes FR.Baker’s cyst: Diagnostic and surgical considerations.Sports Health. 2015;7(4):359-65. doi:10.1177/1941738113520130Lo GH, Strayhorn MT, Driban JB, Price LL, Eaton CB, Mcalindon TE.Subjective crepitus as a risk factor for incident symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(1):53-60. doi:10.1002/acr.23246Gupta Y, Mahara D, Lamichhane A.McMurray’s test and joint line tenderness for medial meniscus tear: Are they accurate?.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2016;26(6):567-572. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10Ohori T, Mae T, Shino K, et al.Varus-valgus instability in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee: effect of posterior tibial load.J Exp Orthop. 2017;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/s40634-017-0087-3Additional ReadingBrowne K, Kurtz CA. “How to perform a comprehensive examination of the knee” JAAPA. 2009 Jun;22(6):20-5.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Frush TJ, Noyes FR.Baker’s cyst: Diagnostic and surgical considerations.Sports Health. 2015;7(4):359-65. doi:10.1177/1941738113520130Lo GH, Strayhorn MT, Driban JB, Price LL, Eaton CB, Mcalindon TE.Subjective crepitus as a risk factor for incident symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(1):53-60. doi:10.1002/acr.23246Gupta Y, Mahara D, Lamichhane A.McMurray’s test and joint line tenderness for medial meniscus tear: Are they accurate?.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2016;26(6):567-572. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10Ohori T, Mae T, Shino K, et al.Varus-valgus instability in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee: effect of posterior tibial load.J Exp Orthop. 2017;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/s40634-017-0087-3Additional ReadingBrowne K, Kurtz CA. “How to perform a comprehensive examination of the knee” JAAPA. 2009 Jun;22(6):20-5.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Frush TJ, Noyes FR.Baker’s cyst: Diagnostic and surgical considerations.Sports Health. 2015;7(4):359-65. doi:10.1177/1941738113520130Lo GH, Strayhorn MT, Driban JB, Price LL, Eaton CB, Mcalindon TE.Subjective crepitus as a risk factor for incident symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(1):53-60. doi:10.1002/acr.23246Gupta Y, Mahara D, Lamichhane A.McMurray’s test and joint line tenderness for medial meniscus tear: Are they accurate?.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2016;26(6):567-572. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10Ohori T, Mae T, Shino K, et al.Varus-valgus instability in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee: effect of posterior tibial load.J Exp Orthop. 2017;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/s40634-017-0087-3
Frush TJ, Noyes FR.Baker’s cyst: Diagnostic and surgical considerations.Sports Health. 2015;7(4):359-65. doi:10.1177/1941738113520130
Lo GH, Strayhorn MT, Driban JB, Price LL, Eaton CB, Mcalindon TE.Subjective crepitus as a risk factor for incident symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(1):53-60. doi:10.1002/acr.23246
Gupta Y, Mahara D, Lamichhane A.McMurray’s test and joint line tenderness for medial meniscus tear: Are they accurate?.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2016;26(6):567-572. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10
Ohori T, Mae T, Shino K, et al.Varus-valgus instability in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee: effect of posterior tibial load.J Exp Orthop. 2017;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/s40634-017-0087-3
Browne K, Kurtz CA. “How to perform a comprehensive examination of the knee” JAAPA. 2009 Jun;22(6):20-5.
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