To differentiate hip impingement from lumbar radiculopathy, which two tests are commonly used in combination?

To differentiate hip impingement from lumbar radiculopathy, which two tests are commonly used in combination?

• A. FADIR and SLR
• B. FADIR alone
• C. SLR alone
• D. FABER and FADIR

Answer: (A)

Using two provocative tests that isolate hip joint pathology from lumbar nerve root irritation helps distinguish hip impingement from lumbar radiculopathy. FADIR (flexion, adduction, internal rotation) stresses the anteroinferior hip joint and acetabular rim, making it particularly sensitive for hip impingement and labral problems. Straight leg raise targets the lumbar nerve roots, reproducing radicular symptoms if nerve tension or compression is present. When used together, they tell you where the pain is coming from: if the hip-focused test reproduces the symptoms while the nerve-root test does not, hip pathology is favored; if the nerve-root test reproduces symptoms with a negative hip test, lumbar radiculopathy is favored. If both are positive, there may be coexisting issues and further evaluation is needed. That’s why this pair is the most informative for distinguishing between these two common sources of pain.

Using two provocative tests that isolate hip joint pathology from lumbar nerve root irritation helps distinguish hip impingement from lumbar radiculopathy. FADIR (flexion, adduction, internal rotation) stresses the anteroinferior hip joint and acetabular rim, making it particularly sensitive for hip impingement and labral problems. Straight leg raise targets the lumbar nerve roots, reproducing radicular symptoms if nerve tension or compression is present. When used together, they tell you where the pain is coming from: if the hip-focused test reproduces the symptoms while the nerve-root test does not, hip pathology is favored; if the nerve-root test reproduces symptoms with a negative hip test, lumbar radiculopathy is favored. If both are positive, there may be coexisting issues and further evaluation is needed. That’s why this pair is the most informative for distinguishing between these two common sources of pain.