Faber Tests

What is the FABER Test?

The Flexion, Abduction, and External Rotation (FABER Test), also called Patrick's Test, is a pain provocation test that healthcare professionals conduct to identify a potential sacroiliac, lumbar, or hip pathology.

The test is attributed to Hugh Talbot Patrick, an esteemed American neurologist. It involves reproducing pain in the areas mentioned above, which may indicate underlying conditions such as sacroiliac joint dysfunction, iliopsoas strain, intra-articular hip disorder, posterior hip impingement, or some other hip joint pathology. These findings warrant further examination to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Similar to specific physical exams, a standardized template for this test doesn't exist. However, we've created a FABER Test template for your convenience. You can use this document as a guide, reference, or document to record your patient's results and any additional observations or findings.

On our template, you can expect to see the following:

• Basic, essential information such as the examination date, patient name, and your name as the examiner
• A step-by-step on how to conduct the test
• A guide on how to know if your patient is positive
• A dedicated space where you can write your patient's results or additional observations/findings you may have

How does it work?

If your patient is experiencing hip pain, this is one of the tests that you should consider conducting. Here are the steps to use this FABER Test template:

Step 1: Access and download the template

To access and download our printable FABER Test, do either of the following, click the “Use Template” or “Download” button on this guide or type FABER Test” on Carepatron's template library's search bar on the website or app.

Step 2: Conduct the test

Once you have a copy of the template, fill out the essential information, such as your name, patient name, and the assessment date. Then, you may follow the test instructions provided on the template.

So that you have an idea of the step-by-step provided on the template, we'll also write down the directions below:

1. Have the patient lie down or be in a supine position.
2. Create a “figure-4” position with the patient's affected leg. Ensure that the ankle is placed on the opposite knee.
3. The hip is positioned in flexion, abduction, and external rotation. The examiner presses down on the bent leg's medial knee, directing the force backward toward the examining table. You may use one hand to do this while the other hand must be placed on the pelvis or opposite hip to prevent it from moving.
4. Observe for signs of groin or buttock pain.

Step 3: Interpret the results

Next is interpreting the results. We've provided a test result guide on the template. It is a positive FABER Test if the patient feels buttocks or groin pain while you're conducting the test. If there is no pain, it's a negative FABER Test.

Whether the patient gets a negative or positive test result, conducting more pain provocation tests would be best to narrow the problem and achieve consistent results.

Feel free to write down any additional notes, observations, or findings you may have in the space provided at the bottom of the template.

Step 4: Proceed with the next steps

Since the test can't diagnose any hip, lumbar, or sacroiliac lumbar region pathology alone, if the patient tests positive, it's best if you recommend that they have the patient undergo further testing to finalize a diagnosis. Does the patient have problems with the lumbar spine? What about the anterior superior iliac spine? Other tests, especially imaging tests, can help narrow things down and determine the problem.

When would you use this form?

Practitioners such as general physicians, physical therapists, orthopedic specialists, and sports physical therapy and medicine experts may use the FABER Test as one of the assessments to determine if the patient has any hip, lumber, or sacroiliac joint pathologies.

To be more specific, the mentioned practitioners can use this test when their patient is exhibiting the following symptoms:

• Pain in the groin or hip joint that may extend to the thigh and knee
• Limping
• Stiffness of muscles
• Pain in the affected leg if one applies weight on it
• Reduced movement in the hip joint

In a study on the reliability of the FABER Test in diagnosing cam-type hip or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in relation to the alpha angle, the FABER Test demonstrated a positive predictive value of 84.88. However, it also has a negative predictive value of 75% (Binyala et al., 2022). As we mentioned earlier, it would be best to conduct more tests for consistency's sake and to avoid examination and diagnostic challenges and problems that may hinder the diagnostic process.

Benefits of using this template

Here are the benefits of using the template:

Saves time and effort

Not only is the test itself quick to conduct, but with the template, you don't need to search for instructions on how to do the test and create notes for the results from scratch.

Accessible

Compared to other tests and assessments, the FABER Test template is an accessible document that doesn't have a paywall and doesn't require an account to access and use.

Can be used as a reference before conducting other tests

The template has a section where you can jot down your notes based on your patient's description of their potential condition and your observations while conducting the FABER Test. Other team members can use what you've recorded on your sheet as a reference to inform their approaches and determine the other necessary steps to take during the diagnostic process.

Entirely digital

Though our FABER Test template is printable, it's also digital. You can access it on any device and store completed ones for immediate access on Carepatron at any time.

Reference

Binyala, S., Bhende, J., Lakhdive, R., Singh, K., & Khandekar, A. (2022). Reliability of FABER test in correlation with alpha angle in diagnosis of cam type femoroacetabular impingement. Journal of Orthopaedics Trauma Surgery and Related Research, 18(9). https://www.jotsrr.org/articles/reliability-of-faber-test-in-correlation-with-alpha-angle-in-diagnosis-of-cam-type-femoroacetabular-impingement-11813.html