Hip Orthopaedic Test: FABER Test

The FABER Test, also called Patrick’s Test, places the hip into flexion, abduction and external rotation. It is used to assess symptom response, movement restriction and possible contribution from the hip, groin, sacroiliac joint or surrounding pelvic region.

A positive test may include familiar pain, restricted movement compared with the other side, or inability of the tested knee to lower toward the table. The location of symptoms matters: anterior groin pain may suggest hip-related involvement, while posterior pelvic or sacroiliac-region pain may increase suspicion that the SIJ or posterior pelvic structures are relevant. However, the FABER Test does not confirm a condition on its own and should be interpreted with history, symptoms, range of motion, strength, function and other assessment findings.

Introduction

The FABER Test is one of the most widely used hip and pelvic special tests. FABER stands for Flexion, ABduction and External Rotation, which describes the position used during the test. It is also commonly called Patrick’s Test.

The test is used in many assessment settings because it is simple, quick and can provide useful information about hip mobility, symptom response and side-to-side difference. Depending on where symptoms are reproduced, the test may support assessment reasoning around hip joint-related pain, groin pain, femoroacetabular impingement-type presentations, sacroiliac-region pain or general movement restriction.

The FABER Test should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic test. It loads several structures at the same time, including the hip joint, surrounding soft tissues and potentially the posterior pelvic region. Because of this, a positive test does not identify one structure with certainty.

For Measurz users, the value of the FABER Test is in recording a clear, repeatable finding: side tested, pain location, pain score, movement restriction, end-feel, comparison side and interpretation confidence.

Quick Summary

Test name: FABER Test / Patrick’s Test
Region: Hip, groin, pelvis and SIJ region
Primary purpose: Assess symptom response and mobility in hip flexion, abduction and external rotation
Commonly associated presentations: Hip-related groin pain, FAI syndrome, hip joint irritability, SIJ-region pain, movement restriction
Positive finding: Familiar pain, restricted range, asymmetry, protective guarding or symptom reproduction
Negative finding: No familiar pain, no meaningful restriction and similar response to the comparison side
Main limitation: It stresses multiple structures and does not identify one source on its own.

What Is the FABER Test?

The FABER Test is a passive position-based test where the client lies supine and the tested leg is placed in a figure-four position. The hip is flexed, abducted and externally rotated.

The professional then observes:

• How far the knee lowers toward the table
• Whether the movement is limited
• Whether symptoms are reproduced
• Where the symptoms are felt
• Whether the response differs from the other side
• Whether the end-feel is muscular, capsular, painful or guarded

The test may be used as a hip mobility screen, a hip provocation test or part of a SIJ/pelvic provocation cluster depending on the clinical question.

Why It Is Used

The FABER Test may be used to support assessment reasoning around:

• Hip-related groin pain
• Hip joint mobility restriction
• Femoroacetabular impingement-type presentations
• Hip osteoarthritis-type presentations
• Adductor or anterior hip symptoms
• Posterior pelvic or SIJ-region pain
• Side-to-side hip mobility differences
• Movement-related hip symptoms
• Lower back, pelvis and hip differential assessment
• Baseline and retest documentation in Measurz

The test is useful because it can provide both a symptom response and a visible range comparison. However, interpretation depends strongly on the location and quality of the symptoms.

What It Assesses

The FABER Test assesses the client’s response to combined hip flexion, abduction and external rotation.

It may provide information about:

• Hip range of motion
• Anterior hip or groin symptom response
• Posterior pelvic or SIJ-region symptom response
• Side-to-side mobility difference
• Hip joint irritability
• Protective guarding
• End-feel quality
• Movement-related symptom reproduction

It does not directly assess:

• A single structure with certainty
• Labral integrity
• Cartilage status
• SIJ pathology with certainty
• Imaging findings
• Strength
• Balance
• Gait mechanics
• Readiness for sport or work
• Treatment needs

Who It Is Useful For

The FABER Test may be useful for clients with:

• Hip pain
• Groin pain
• Anterior hip discomfort
• Posterior pelvic discomfort
• Lower back or pelvic-region symptoms
• Reduced hip external rotation
• Pain with squatting, lunging or sitting cross-legged
• Sport or work tasks requiring hip mobility
• Side-to-side hip movement differences
• A need for baseline and retest tracking

It may also be useful for students learning how hip position, symptom location and movement restriction influence assessment reasoning.

When to Use This Test

Consider using the FABER Test when:

• Hip, groin or pelvic symptoms are part of the presentation
• You want to compare hip mobility side to side
• The client reports pain in positions involving hip flexion, abduction or external rotation
• You want to record symptom location and irritability
• SIJ-region pain is being assessed as part of a broader cluster
• You are building a broader hip and pelvic assessment profile

The test is best combined with history, gait, hip range of motion, strength testing, functional testing and other relevant special tests.

When Not to Use or When to Be Cautious

Use caution or avoid the test when:

• The hip is highly irritable
• There is suspected fracture, dislocation or acute major trauma
• The client cannot tolerate supine positioning
• The client has recent surgery and the position is not appropriate
• There is severe pain before testing
• The client reports neurological symptoms requiring further assessment
• Hip abduction or external rotation is restricted by pain or protective guarding
• The professional cannot position the limb safely

Stop the test if symptoms increase sharply, the client asks to stop, or the hip cannot be positioned without forcing.

Equipment Required

The FABER Test usually requires no special equipment.

Optional equipment includes:

• Measurz app
• Pain rating scale
• Plinth or firm testing surface
• Goniometer or inclinometer if quantifying range
• Tape measure if recording knee-to-table distance
• Notes field for pain location, end-feel and interpretation
• Video recording for education or comparison where appropriate

Step-by-Step Protocol / Practice

Setup

Ask the client to lie supine on a plinth or firm surface.

Explain that the test places the hip into a figure-four position and that they should report where they feel any symptoms.

Test the less symptomatic side first if appropriate.

Client position

The client lies supine with both legs relaxed.

The tested leg is placed so the ankle rests above the opposite knee, creating a figure-four position.

The tested hip is positioned in flexion, abduction and external rotation.

Examiner/professional position

The professional stands beside the tested limb.

One hand may stabilise the opposite pelvis. The other hand guides the tested knee toward the table.

Hand placement

Place one hand gently over the opposite anterior superior iliac spine or pelvis to monitor pelvic movement.

Place the other hand on the medial or anterior aspect of the tested knee or distal thigh to guide the movement.

Stabilisation

Stabilise the opposite pelvis enough to reduce excessive pelvic rotation.

Do not push aggressively. The goal is to assess symptom response and available movement, not force the knee to the table.

Movement or force direction

Allow the tested knee to lower toward the table. Apply gentle downward pressure only if appropriate.

The movement should be slow and controlled.

Instructions

Tell the client:

“Let the leg relax. I am going to gently lower your knee toward the table. Tell me if this reproduces any familiar symptoms and point to where you feel them.”

Positive finding

A positive finding may include:

• Familiar anterior hip or groin pain
• Familiar posterior pelvic or SIJ-region pain
• Marked range restriction compared with the other side
• Protective guarding
• Painful end-feel
• Reproduction of the client’s typical symptoms
• Large side-to-side difference in knee-to-table distance

The reason for calling the test positive should be recorded.

Negative finding

A negative finding may include:

• No familiar pain
• No meaningful side-to-side restriction
• Comfortable end-feel
• Similar range to the opposite side
• No relevant symptom reproduction

A negative result does not fully exclude hip, groin, pelvic or SIJ-related involvement.

Stopping criteria

Stop the test if:

• Pain increases sharply
• Symptoms become concerning
• The client asks to stop
• The hip cannot be positioned safely
• Muscle guarding prevents meaningful testing
• Neurological symptoms occur

Safety notes

Do not force the knee downward. The FABER position can be provocative for irritable hip, groin, pelvic or lower back presentations.

Positive and Negative Test Interpretation

A positive FABER Test may increase suspicion that the hip, groin, posterior pelvic region or SIJ-region structures are relevant to the client’s symptoms. Interpretation depends on symptom location.

Anterior hip or groin pain may support hip-related assessment reasoning when it matches the client’s history and other findings. Posterior pelvic or sacroiliac-region pain may support SIJ/pelvic-region reasoning when it matches other provocation tests and symptom behaviour.

A positive test does not confirm a labral tear, FAI syndrome, SIJ pain, hip osteoarthritis or any other single condition. The test stresses multiple structures, and pain may be influenced by joint, muscular, neural, capsular or protective factors.

A negative FABER Test may reduce suspicion that this position is a major symptom driver, especially when range and symptom response are similar side to side. However, a negative result does not exclude hip or pelvic involvement, particularly if symptoms occur in other positions or higher-load tasks.

The result is more meaningful when interpreted with:

• History
• Pain location
• Symptom behaviour
• Hip range of motion
• Strength testing
• Gait
• Squat or lunge assessment
• Other hip special tests
• SIJ provocation cluster where relevant
• Functional assessment

Sensitivity, Specificity and Diagnostic Accuracy

Diagnostic accuracy for the FABER Test varies depending on the condition, population, positive finding definition and reference standard.

For FAI syndrome, recent research using a combined reference standard of symptoms, radiological morphology and response to intra-articular block injection reported that FABER had substantial inter-rater agreement when performed by experienced examiners. However, the FABER Test had sensitivity no higher than 60%, and specificity across the hip impingement tests in that study ranged from 24–51%. This means FABER should not be used alone to confirm or exclude FAI syndrome.

Condition or presentation: FAI syndrome
Population: People with long-standing hip/groin pain in a specialist setting
Test variation: FABER as part of hip impingement and range of motion assessment
Reference standard: Symptoms, CAM and/or pincer morphology, and response to intra-articular block injection
Sensitivity: No higher than 60% for FABER in the reported test group
Specificity: Low to moderate range across the hip impingement test group
Positive likelihood ratio: Not sufficiently strong for stand-alone rule-in use
Negative likelihood ratio: Not sufficiently strong for stand-alone rule-out use
Key limitations: Specialist setting, selected population, and results may not generalise to all hip, groin, sport or community populations.

For SIJ-related presentations, FABER is often studied as one component of a provocation cluster. Its interpretation is usually stronger when combined with other SIJ provocation tests rather than used alone.

Plain-language interpretation:

• A positive FABER Test may support assessment reasoning, but it does not confirm a condition.
• A negative FABER Test does not fully exclude hip or SIJ-region involvement.
• Pain location and symptom reproduction are critical.
• Diagnostic value improves when combined with other relevant tests.

Reliability and Validity

FABER can show acceptable reliability when performed by experienced professionals using a consistent method, but reliability is influenced by client positioning, pelvic stabilisation, amount of force, symptom irritability and how the result is defined.

Validity is limited when FABER is treated as a single diagnostic test. It is more valid as a symptom provocation and mobility comparison test.

Reliability improves when the professional records:

• Side tested
• Pain location
• Pain score
• Knee-to-table distance if measured
• End-feel
• Pelvic movement
• Amount of pressure applied
• Comparison side
• Whether symptoms are familiar
• Client irritability

Common Errors and Limitations

Common errors include:

• Forcing the knee downward
• Not stabilising or monitoring the pelvis
• Failing to record symptom location
• Calling any discomfort a positive test
• Ignoring side-to-side range difference
• Not separating pain from stiffness
• Assuming posterior pain always means SIJ involvement
• Assuming anterior pain always means labral involvement
• Not combining the result with other tests
• Using FABER as a stand-alone diagnostic test

Limitations include:

• It loads multiple structures
• It cannot isolate one tissue
• Pain location can be difficult to interpret
• Hip stiffness may affect the result
• Pelvic movement may affect the result
• Acute irritability can reduce usefulness
• Diagnostic accuracy varies widely by condition and population

Practical Applications

The FABER Test may be useful for:

• Hip and groin assessment
• Pelvic-region symptom assessment
• Comparing hip mobility side to side
• Recording symptom response
• Identifying positions that reproduce familiar symptoms
• Guiding further assessment selection
• Client education
• Measurz baseline and retest documentation

In Measurz, FABER can be recorded alongside FADIR, Scour Test, Log Roll Test, hip range of motion, hip strength, SIJ provocation tests, squat assessment, gait and functional testing.

How to Record This in Measurz

Record:

• Test name: FABER Test / Patrick’s Test
• Side tested
• Result: positive, negative, unclear or unable to test
• Pain score
• Symptom location
• Symptom quality
• Whether symptoms were familiar
• Knee-to-table distance if measured
• End-feel
• Range restriction
• Pelvic movement
• Comparison side
• Irritability
• Compensations
• Reason for stopping if relevant
• Related findings
• Interpretation confidence
• Further assessment notes if appropriate
• Retest date if relevant

Recording these details improves repeatability, communication, client education, assessment reasoning, monitoring over time, team consistency and reporting quality.

Related Tests / Internal Links

• FADIR Test
• Scour Test
• Log Roll Test
• Fitzgerald Test
• Hip range of motion
• Hip internal rotation
• Hip external rotation
• SIJ provocation tests
• Toe Touch Test
• Kemp’s Test
• Gait assessment

FAQs

What does FABER stand for?

FABER stands for flexion, abduction and external rotation.

Is FABER the same as Patrick’s Test?

Yes. FABER is commonly called Patrick’s Test.

What is a positive FABER Test?

A positive finding may include familiar pain, meaningful restriction, asymmetry, guarding or a painful end-feel.

Does FABER diagnose a labral tear?

No. FABER does not diagnose a labral tear on its own.

Does FABER diagnose SIJ pain?

No. Posterior pelvic pain during FABER may support SIJ-region reasoning, but it should be interpreted with other SIJ provocation tests and history.

Should pain location be recorded?

Yes. Pain location is essential for interpretation.

Can FABER be used as a mobility test?

Yes. It can help compare hip mobility side to side when measured and recorded consistently.

Should FABER be forced?

No. The movement should be gentle and controlled.

Key Takeaways

The FABER Test places the hip into flexion, abduction and external rotation.

It can provide useful information about hip mobility, symptom response and side-to-side difference.

Pain location strongly influences interpretation.

A positive test does not confirm a specific condition.

A negative test does not fully exclude hip, groin, pelvic or SIJ-region involvement.

Measurz recording should include side, pain location, pain score, range restriction, end-feel and comparison side.

References

Martin, R. L., Sekiya, J. K., & colleagues. (2008). Clinical examination of the hip and pelvis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.

Pålsson, A., Kostogiannis, I., & Ageberg, E. (2020). Combining results from hip impingement and range of motion tests can increase diagnostic accuracy in patients with FAI syndrome. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 28, 3382–3392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-06005-5

Reiman, M. P., Goode, A. P., Hegedus, E. J., Cook, C. E., & Wright, A. A. (2013). Diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests of the hip: A systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(14), 893–902. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091035

Reiman, M. P., Goode, A. P., Cook, C. E., Hölmich, P., & Thorborg, K. (2015). Diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests for the diagnosis of hip femoroacetabular impingement/labral tear: A systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(12), 811. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-094302

Stuber, K. J. (2007). Specificity, sensitivity, and predictive values of clinical tests of the sacroiliac joint: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 51(1), 30–41.