Hip abduction and flexion w/ external rotation shows the ability of the hip to abduct and externaly rotate, which is essential for hip function and gives an indication of abductor/flexion muscle activation.
To perform this assessment:
- From a lying position, abduct leg 30-degrees and flex the hip 30-degrees
- Rotate left foot/knee outward as far as possible and hold for a second
- Repeat on right side and compare the motion between sides
