What is the correct positioning for the FADIR test?

What is the correct positioning for the FADIR test?

• A. Hip is extended, abducted and externally rotated
• B. Hip is flexed to 90 degrees, adducted across midline, and internally rotated to end range
• C. Hip flexed 60 degrees, abducted and externally rotated
• D. Hip is flexed to 90 degrees, adducted across midline, and internally rotated to end range

Answer: (D)

The FADIR test positions the hip to provoke impingement by compressing the anterior part of the acetabulum against the femoral neck. The correct positioning is hip flexed to about 90 degrees, adducted across the midline, and internally rotated to end range. In this position, the femoral head-neck junction slides into contact with the acetabular rim, which can reproduce groin pain if there is femoroacetabular impingement or a labral tear. Pain elicited in this setup indicates a positive test. Positions that involve abduction with external rotation or less flexion do not compress the same impingement zone, so they don’t reliably reproduce the same symptoms.

The FADIR test positions the hip to provoke impingement by compressing the anterior part of the acetabulum against the femoral neck. The correct positioning is hip flexed to about 90 degrees, adducted across the midline, and internally rotated to end range. In this position, the femoral head-neck junction slides into contact with the acetabular rim, which can reproduce groin pain if there is femoroacetabular impingement or a labral tear. Pain elicited in this setup indicates a positive test. Positions that involve abduction with external rotation or less flexion do not compress the same impingement zone, so they don’t reliably reproduce the same symptoms.