FABER (Patrick) Test: how to perform it step by step to detect hip problems

If your client or patient complains of "odd" pain around the groin, hip, or sacroiliac joint and you're not sure where to start, the FABER test (also known as Patrick's test) is one of the first tools you should pull out. It's quick, requires no equipment, and depending on where the pain shows up, it gives you very specific clues about which structure is involved.

What does this test measure?

FABER stands for Flexion, ABduction, and External Rotation of the hip (hence the name "Patrick's test," after the "4"-shaped position the leg takes). The test combines these three movements to load or compress different structures depending on where the pain appears:

• The hip joint itself: possible signs of arthritis or impingement
• The sacroiliac joint: if the pain appears in the glute/posterior area
• The adductor and iliopsoas muscles: if the pain appears on the inner thigh or groin due to muscle tension

It's primarily a pain provocation test: it doesn't measure range in degrees, but whether the movement reproduces discomfort, and where.

Equipment needed

• A table or firm surface where the person can lie down
• Nothing else: the test is performed entirely with the examiner's hands

Protocol

1. The person lies face-up (supine) on the table
2. Place the ankle of the leg being tested on top of the opposite knee, so the hip ends up in flexion, abduction, and external rotation (the "4" position)
3. With one hand, stabilize the contralateral ASIS (anterior superior iliac spine) by pressing on the opposite hip bone
4. With the other hand, apply gentle, progressive pressure on the knee of the tested leg, pushing it toward the table
5. Ask the person where the discomfort appears (if it does) and compare with the other side

Common mistakes

• Applying pressure too quickly or abruptly instead of progressively
• Not stabilizing the opposite side of the pelvis, which can create a false compensatory movement
• Not specifically asking where it hurts (location is the most important part of the interpretation)
• Confusing normal end-of-range tightness (adductor stretch) with actual pain

How to interpret the result

Result	Interpretation
Negative (no pain, knee stays close to the table)	No signs of significant hip, sacroiliac, or adductor involvement
Pain in the groin/anterior hip	Suggests possible intra-articular hip involvement (arthritis, femoroacetabular impingement)
Pain in the glute/posterior area	Suggests possible sacroiliac joint involvement
Pain on the inner thigh	Suggests adductor/iliopsoas tightness or overload
Knee sits noticeably higher than the other side (no pain)	Possible mobility limitation in flexion/abduction/external rotation, rather than a classic "positive" sign

As with all special orthopedic tests, no single test ever confirms a diagnosis: the FABER is one piece of a broader screen, and a positive result should be cross-checked against other clinical findings or, if structural pathology is suspected, against medical assessment and imaging.

Relationship with other tests

The FABER pairs especially well with:

• Femoroacetabular impingement test (FADIR) — if the FABER produces anterior pain, the FADIR helps confirm or rule out impingement
• Scour test — another intra-articular provocation test that complements the FABER well when pain is anterior/deep

Track it over time

A single FABER result doesn't tell you much if you write it down and never look at it again. What matters is tracking the location and intensity of the pain at each assessment to see whether it improves with the mobility or strengthening work you're prescribing. In Movalytics you can note the FABER result (side, pain location, positive/negative) alongside the rest of a client's hip tests, and compare progress session by session without losing track.

FAQ

Does the FABER test always hurt? No. In people without significant issues, the movement may feel like a normal end-of-range tightness, with no real pain. A "positive" pain response is clearly different from that stretching sensation. Are FABER and Patrick's test the same thing? Yes, they're different names for the same test. "Patrick" refers to the surname of the doctor who described it, while "FABER" is the acronym for the position the hip takes. Can I do this test if my client has low back pain instead of hip pain? Yes, in fact it's commonly used in low back pain screening to rule out sacroiliac involvement, since low back pain and sacroiliac pain can easily be confused without a specific assessment.