Kemp's test is used to assess which of the following?

Kemp's test is used to assess which of the following?

• A. Lumbar facet joint irritation and possible nerve root compression
• B. Hip flexor tightness
• C. Posterior cruciate ligament integrity
• D. Sacroiliac joint instability

Answer: (A)

Kemp's test loads the lumbar facet joints and the neural structures to see if they reproduce symptoms. By guiding the patient into extension with a bit of lateral flexion and applying a bite of axial compression, the facet joints and the exiting nerve roots are stressed. If this maneuver reproduces low back pain or radicular symptoms, it suggests facet joint irritation or nerve root compression from foraminal encroachment or disc-related irritation. This isn’t about the hip flexors, the posterior cruciate ligament, or the sacroiliac joint. Hip flexor tightness would be evaluated with tests designed to assess hip muscle length, not spinal loading. PCL integrity concerns the knee ligaments and is evaluated with knee-specific tests. SI joint instability is explored with provocative SI joint maneuvers. Kemp's test specifically targets the lumbar facet joints and adjacent nerve roots, which is why it’s the best choice here.

Kemp's test loads the lumbar facet joints and the neural structures to see if they reproduce symptoms. By guiding the patient into extension with a bit of lateral flexion and applying a bite of axial compression, the facet joints and the exiting nerve roots are stressed. If this maneuver reproduces low back pain or radicular symptoms, it suggests facet joint irritation or nerve root compression from foraminal encroachment or disc-related irritation.

This isn’t about the hip flexors, the posterior cruciate ligament, or the sacroiliac joint. Hip flexor tightness would be evaluated with tests designed to assess hip muscle length, not spinal loading. PCL integrity concerns the knee ligaments and is evaluated with knee-specific tests. SI joint instability is explored with provocative SI joint maneuvers. Kemp's test specifically targets the lumbar facet joints and adjacent nerve roots, which is why it’s the best choice here.