How to assess hip strength


Assess function at the hip 

  • Ask the person to stand up out of a chair five times 


If the person has signs of reduced muscle strength while performing this movement, assess all individual shoulder movements on both sides using the MRC muscle power test.


Note: If a person is having difficulty with transfers, a full assessment of transfers and mobility should also be conducted.

Assess function at the hip by asking person to stand up out of a chair five times
 

Read on to learn how to assess strength of individual movements at the hip.

How to assess hip flexion strength 


Positioning of person: 

  • For grade 0-2 (gravity eliminated): person in side-lying, with leg being tested on top 
  • For grade 3-5: person in seated position with upper leg supported 


Clinician positioning and handling: 

  • For grade 0-2: support the leg at the ankle and knee joint. to test the opposite side, ask or assist the person to roll over to the other side. 
  • For grade 3-5: stand on test side of person in seated position, provide resistance downwards on top of the upper leg 


Instructions for person: 

  • ‘Please lift your foot off the ground’


Watch these videos to learn how to assess hip flexion strength:

Assess hip flexion strength grade 0-2: 
 

Assess hip flexion strength grade 3-5: 
   

How to assess hip extension strength 


Positioning of person: 

  • For grade 0-2 (gravity eliminated): person in side-lying, with side being tested on top 
  • For grade 3-5: person in prone position with knee bent, or person can perform a gluteal bridge in supine 


Clinician positioning and handling: 

  • For grade 0-2: support the leg at the ankle and knee joint. to test the opposite side, ask or assist the person to roll over to the other side. 
  • For grade 3-5: stand on test side of person, provide resistance downwards through the posterior upper leg 


Instructions for person: 

  • For grade 0-2: ‘Please move your leg backwards as far as you can’ 
  • For grade 3-5: ‘Please kick your foot upwards, lifting your hip off the bed’


Watch these videos to learn how to assess hip abduction strength:

Assess hip extension strength grade 0-2: 
 

Assess hip extension strength grade 3-5: 
   

How to assess hip abduction strength 


Positioning of person: 

  • For grade 0-2 (gravity eliminated): person in supine 
  • For grade 3-5: person in side-lying, with side being tested on top Clinician positioning and handling: 
  • For grade 0-2: support the leg at the ankle and knee joint. to test the opposite side, move to the other side of the bed. 
  • For grade 3-5: support the pelvis in a side-lying position. Apply resistance downwards through the lateral upper leg 


Instructions for person: 

  • ‘Please move your leg away from your body’


Watch these videos to learn how to assess hip abduction strength:

Assess hip abduction strength grade 0-2: 
 

Assess hip abduction strength grade 3-5: 
   


Activity

Practice performing each of the muscle strength assessments for: 

  • Hip flexion 
  • Hip extension 
  • Hip abduction 

Practice assessing in gravity eliminated and against gravity positions. 

Time: 10 minutes 

Post any questions on the discussion forum.

Congratulations, you have now learnt how to assess muscle strength for the hip. Learning how to properly assess muscle strength for each movement will take time so we encourage you to practice assessing each movement in your own time as well as in this module.