Yeoman Test – Sacroiliac Joint Examination

Yeoman Test is a provocative test used to evaluate the sacroiliac joint dysfunction or inflammation (sacroiliitis).

How it’s Performed?

The patient is prone with the knee flexed 90°. The examiner raises the flexed leg on the examining table, hyperextending the hip.

What does a positive Yeoman Test mean?

• The first part of this test initially places stress on the posterior structures of the sacroiliac joint; later the stress shifts to the anterior portions, primarily affecting the anterior sacroiliac ligaments.
• Pain in the lumbar spine suggests the presence of pathologic processes at that site.
• Anterior thigh paresthesia may indicate a femoral nerve stretch.

Sensitivity & Specificity

• Sensitivity: 93 % ^{1 2}
• Specificity: 89 %

Another study ³ by Parisa Nejati to assess the reliability and validity of motion palpation and pain provocation compared with sacroiliac joint (SIJ) block as the gold-standard assessment method of patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD), he found the sensitivity was (64.1%) and specificity was (33.3 %) for Yeoman Test.

Notes

Other structures that are stressed with this maneuver include the lumbar spine, the hip joint, and the iliopsoas muscle.

Reference

1. Laslett M, Young SB, Aprill CN, McDonald B. Diagnosing painful sacroiliac joints: A validity study of a McKenzie evaluation and sacroiliac provocation tests. Aust J Physiother. 2003;49(2):89-97. doi: 10.1016/s0004-9514(14)60125-2. PMID: 12775204.
2. Laslett M, Aprill CN, McDonald B, Young SB. Diagnosis of sacroiliac joint pain: validity of individual provocation tests and composites of tests. Man Ther. 2005 Aug;10(3):207-18. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2005.01.003. PMID: 16038856.
3. Nejati P, Sartaj E, Imani F, Moeineddin R, Nejati L, Safavi M. Accuracy of the Diagnostic Tests of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction. J Chiropr Med. 2020 Mar;19(1):28-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2019.12.002. Epub 2020 Sep 12. PMID: 33192189; PMCID: PMC7646135.
4. Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal System 3rd Edition.
5. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, And Intervention 3rd Edition.