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PNA MSK Clinical Library

MSK Clinical Injury & Rehabilitation

Browse condition-specific assessment and evidence-informed rehabilitation guides by body region.

Practical Examination Skills

MSK Special Tests Library

93 tests with exact patient setup, step-by-step applying method, positive signs and clinical purpose.

Explore Special Tests

Browse by Region

Whole-body clinical library

Ankle & Foot

Strong evidence

Sprain / Ligament

Lateral Ankle Sprain

Injury of the lateral ankle ligament complex, most commonly the ATFL, often after inversion with plantar flexion.

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Strong evidence

Rupture / Tendon

Achilles Tendon Rupture

Partial or complete rupture of the Achilles tendon, commonly presenting with sudden posterior-ankle pain and loss of plantar-flexion function.

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Strong evidence

Fascia / Overuse

Plantar Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciopathy)

Plantar-medial heel pain often worst with first steps after rest.

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Strong evidence

Tendinopathy / Overuse

Achilles Tendinopathy

Load-related midportion or insertional Achilles tendon pain and impaired function.

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Moderate evidence

Tendinopathy / Foot

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity)

Medial ankle tendon pain and possible progressive acquired foot deformity.

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Knee

Strong evidence

Sprain / Tear

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury

Partial or complete ACL disruption causing rotational and anterior knee instability, often during pivoting, deceleration or awkward landing.

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Moderate evidence

Meniscus / Cartilage

Meniscal Injury

Traumatic or degenerative injury of the medial or lateral meniscus, presenting with joint-line pain, swelling and sometimes catching or locking.

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Strong evidence

Arthritis / Degenerative

Knee Osteoarthritis

Clinical osteoarthritis causing activity-related knee pain, stiffness and functional limitation; exercise and education are core treatments.

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Strong evidence

Patellofemoral / Load-Related

Patellofemoral Pain

Peripatellar pain aggravated by loaded knee flexion such as stairs, squatting and running.

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Strong evidence

Tendinopathy / Overuse

Patellar Tendinopathy

Load-related inferior patellar tendon pain, often in jumping athletes.

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Moderate evidence

Sprain / Ligament

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury

Posterior cruciate ligament injury causing posterior tibial laxity after trauma.

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Moderate evidence

Sprain / Ligament

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury

Valgus-related medial knee ligament injury, often managed non-operatively when isolated.

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Thigh

Moderate evidence

Strain / Muscle

Hamstring Strain

Musculotendinous hamstring injury commonly occurring during high-speed running or excessive lengthening.

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Shoulder

Strong evidence

Tendinopathy / Impingement

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy / Subacromial Pain

Load-related rotator cuff pain, often aggravated by elevation and overhead activity; modern management emphasizes active rehabilitation rather than a purely mechanical 'impingement' model.

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Strong evidence

Tear / Rupture

Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear

Complete disruption through the tendon thickness, ranging from degenerative tears with preserved function to acute traumatic tears with major weakness.

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Moderate evidence

Instability / Subluxation

Anterior Shoulder Instability

Recurrent or traumatic tendency of the humeral head to translate anteriorly, often after dislocation or subluxation.

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Moderate evidence

Capsular / Stiffness

Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)

Painful global restriction of active and passive glenohumeral movement, commonly greatest in external rotation.

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Moderate evidence

Sprain / Ligament

Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Injury

AC and sometimes coracoclavicular ligament injury, commonly after direct shoulder impact.

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Moderate evidence

Tendinopathy / Overuse

Long-Head Biceps Tendinopathy

Anterior shoulder pain associated with long-head biceps loading, often coexisting with cuff or labral pathology.

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Hip & Groin

Moderate evidence

Impingement / Joint

Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome (FAIS)

Symptomatic nonarthritic hip condition involving motion-related hip/groin pain with clinical findings and cam/pincer morphology when imaging is relevant.

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Strong evidence

Arthritis / Degenerative

Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip OA commonly causes groin/anterior thigh pain, mobility loss and reduced walking function; rehabilitation emphasizes exercise, education and selected manual therapy.

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Moderate evidence

Tendinopathy / Lateral Hip Pain

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS)

Lateral hip pain commonly associated with gluteal tendon pathology and compression sensitivity.

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Strong evidence

Tendinopathy / Overuse

Gluteal Tendinopathy

Load-related gluteus medius/minimus tendon pain with lateral hip symptoms.

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Moderate evidence

Muscle / Tendon Overuse

Adductor-Related Groin Pain

Groin pain associated with adductor loading, common in cutting and kicking sports.

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Neck & Upper Quarter

Moderate evidence

Nerve / Compression

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical nerve-root disorder causing neck/arm pain with sensory, motor or reflex changes in a root distribution.

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Strong evidence

Spinal / Mechanical Pain

Mechanical Neck Pain

Movement- and load-related neck pain requiring neurological and serious-pathology screening.

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Moderate evidence

Traumatic / Whiplash

Whiplash-Associated Disorder (WAD)

Neck symptoms after acceleration–deceleration trauma; grade and screen for associated injury.

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Wrist & Hand

Strong evidence

Nerve / Compression

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Median nerve compression at the carpal tunnel causing nocturnal paresthesia, sensory symptoms and sometimes thenar weakness.

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Moderate evidence

Tendon / Overuse

De Quervain Tenosynovitis

First dorsal compartment tendon disorder causing radial wrist pain with thumb use.

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Moderate evidence

Tendon / Stenosis

Trigger Finger (Stenosing Flexor Tenosynovitis)

Flexor tendon gliding disorder causing painful clicking, catching or locking of a digit.

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Elbow & Forearm

Moderate evidence

Tendinopathy / Overuse

Lateral Epicondylalgia (Tennis Elbow)

Load-related lateral elbow pain involving the common wrist-extensor tendon, especially extensor carpi radialis brevis.

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Moderate evidence

Tendinopathy / Overuse

Medial Epicondylalgia (Golfer's Elbow)

Load-related pain at the common flexor-pronator tendon origin.

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Spine

Strong evidence

Spinal / Mechanical Pain

Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Low back pain without identified serious specific pathology; function, education and activity are central.

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Moderate evidence

Nerve / Radicular

Lumbar Radiculopathy

Lumbar nerve-root disorder with radiating leg pain and possible neurological deficit.

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Moderate evidence

Spinal / Mechanical Pain

Thoracic Spine Pain

Thoracic pain requiring consideration of mechanical, cardiopulmonary, visceral and fracture causes.

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Leg

Moderate evidence

Bone Stress Injury

Tibial Bone Stress Injury

Bone stress continuum associated with repetitive impact and training-load mismatch.

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Clinical safety note

These guides are educational. Special tests do not diagnose a condition in isolation. Mechanism, history, neurologic/vascular screening, red flags, examination findings and appropriate imaging or referral must be integrated before treatment.