Hoover Test

Purpose

The purpose of the test is to distinguish between leg paresis that is psychogenic from that which is genuine. Genuine leg weakness seen in paresis is considered to be "organic," and other causes of leg paresis that is not related to a neuropathological process is considered to be "nonorganic."

 

Technique

Hoover's sign is a motor sign. It is based on the principle of crossed extensor reflex. The patient is placed in a supine/recumbent position. The examiner places his/her hand under the patient's heel. The patient is then instructed to press the heels down onto the table. The examiner is expected to feel pressure on the non-paretic limb. The patient is then asked to raise his/her non-paretic limb against downward resistance applied by the therapist. No pressure is expected to be felt under the paretic leg that is on the table. The Hoover's sign is when pressure is felt in the paretic leg when the non-paretic leg is raised and no pressure is felt in the non-paretic leg when the paretic leg is being raised.

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환자는 치료대에 똑바로 누워서 이완하고 검사자는 손바닥으로 환자 발뒤꿈치를 잡은 뒤 환자는 한쪽 하지를 번갈아가며 똑바로 들어올린다. 반응 - 다리를 들어올리지 못함은 신경근 약화. 검사자가 들어올리지 않는 다리의 손바닥에 증가된 압력을 느끼지 못할때 이 검사의 반응을 의미한다. 

환자가 일부러 다리를 올리지 않거나 들어올렸을 때 반대쪽 발뒤꿈치에 하방으로의 압력을 느끼지 못한다면 양성

(들어 올리려는 다리의 힘이 실제로 약하다면 환자는 약한쪽 다리를 들어올리려는 보상작용으로 건측 발뒤꿈치에 힘을 주게 된다.)

(환측 다리를 들라고 하면 건측에도 힘이 들어가야 하는데 건측에 힘이 안 들어간다는 건 아예 들 생각을 안하고 있다는 거) 

 

Test Positioning - The subject relaxes in a supine position on the table while the examiner places both the subject's heels into the palm of the examiner's hands. 

Action - The subject is asked to perform a unilateral straight leg raise. 

Positive Finding - The inability lifts the leg may reflect a neuromuscular weakness. A positive finding is also noted when the examiner does not feel an increased pressure in the palm that underlies the resting leg.