Physical examination of the knee - Lachman's test and anterior drawer test.

Lachman's test

Tests for: Anterior cruicate ligament
Look for: End point of the ligament
Points:

• Patient lies down on his/her back
• Slightly flex the knee about 20-30 degrees to relax quadriceps and hamstrings
• Support distal femur
• One hand on the tibial tubeosity/proximal tibia
• Apply a force anteriorly on the tibia.
• If it doesn't come to a stop, ACL tear.

Anterior drawer test

Tests for: ACL
Look for: More than 5 degrees of movement of the tibia anteriorly
Points:

• Patient lies on back
• Knee flexed to 90 degrees
• Ensure hamstrings are relaxed
• Examiner sits on the foot
• Pulls the tibia anteriorly
• According to Gray's, the medial meniscus or meniscotibial ligaments MUST be damaged to elicit this sign.
  

Others

• Look for varus and valgus when checking posture
• Test range of movement/tone, power, bulk.
  
• Patellar tap - bulge sign
• Patellar apprehension test
• Apley's grinding test - meniscal damage
• Distraction test - meniscal damage
• Baker's cyst
  
• McMurray's test - meniscal damage