Which aspect best describes the protocol of the stork standing test?

Which aspect best describes the protocol of the stork standing test?

• A. The patient stands on both legs and performs calf raises while the examiner palpates the spine.
• B. The patient stands on one leg and performs plantarflexion while the examiner watches the pelvis.
• C. The patient stands on one leg, slowly extends the lumbar spine while maintaining balance, and symptoms are compared between sides.
• D. The patient sits and performs trunk twists while keeping the feet planted.

Answer: (C)

The stork standing test focuses on stressing the pars interarticularis of the lumbar spine by having the person stand on one leg and extend the trunk while maintaining balance. Reproducing pain during that single-leg stance and backward bending suggests a defect or stress injury (spondylolysis) in the pars interarticularis on the side being tested. The key is comparing symptoms on the two sides, since a positive test is typically side-specific. The other maneuvers don’t match this loading pattern: standing on two feet with calf raises and palpating the spine isn’t the targeted stress of the stork test; performing plantarflexion while watching the pelvis doesn’t isolate the pars interarticularis; and seated trunk twists don’t place the spine in the single-leg stance with lumbar extension that the test uses.

The stork standing test focuses on stressing the pars interarticularis of the lumbar spine by having the person stand on one leg and extend the trunk while maintaining balance. Reproducing pain during that single-leg stance and backward bending suggests a defect or stress injury (spondylolysis) in the pars interarticularis on the side being tested. The key is comparing symptoms on the two sides, since a positive test is typically side-specific.

The other maneuvers don’t match this loading pattern: standing on two feet with calf raises and palpating the spine isn’t the targeted stress of the stork test; performing plantarflexion while watching the pelvis doesn’t isolate the pars interarticularis; and seated trunk twists don’t place the spine in the single-leg stance with lumbar extension that the test uses.