ArticlePeerJ2016
The modified Thomas test is not a valid measure of hip extension unless pelvic tilt is controlled.
Article in PeerJ, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Reliability of physical examination tests for assessing hip flexor flexibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy of semi-customized exercises in preventing low back pain in high school volleyball players: A randomized controlled trial.Medicine · 2022Trial
- Foam Rolling and Joint Distraction with Elastic Band Training Performed for 5-7 Weeks Respectively Improve Lower Limb Flexibility.Journal of sports science & medicine · 2019Trial
- Differences in Psoas Major Muscle Properties Between Elite Athletes with and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.Sports medicine - open · 2026Article
- Biokinetic Profiles in Patellofemoral Pain Patients During a Step-Down Task: An Unsupervised Machine Learning Approach.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2025Article
- Impact of Hip Exercises on Postural Stability and Function in Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Musculoskeletal mimics of lumbosacral radiculopathy.Muscle & nerve · 2025Review
- Sports injury risk assessment based on a training and functional movement analysis of young elite equestrian athletes- an exploratory cross-sectional study.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2025Article
- The Pediatric Hip Physical Exam.Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine · 2025Review
- Altered lower extremity muscle activity patterns due to Iliopsoas tightness during single-leg landing.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Article
- Effects of slow dynamic, fast dynamic, and static stretching on recovery of performance, range of motion, balance, and joint position sense in healthy adults.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2024Article
- A New Clinical Examination Algorithm to Prescribe Conservative Treatment in People with Hip-Related Pain.Pain and therapy · 2024Review
- Pelvic flexion/extension and its impact on functional acetabular alignment and stability following total hip replacement.International orthopaedics · 2024Article
- Is muscle stiffness a determinant for range of motion in the leg muscles?Biology of sport · 2024Article
- Reliability of Goniometric Techniques for Measuring Hip Flexor Length Using the Modified Thomas Test.International journal of sports physical therapy · 2024Article
- A comparative study of the efficacy of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and massage techniques in patients with patellofemoral joint pain.Frontiers in medicine · 2023Article
- Description of ROM-SPORT I Battery: Keys to Assess Lower Limb Flexibility.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Article
- The effect of static stretching exercises on hip range of motion, pain, and disability in patients with non-specific low back pain.Journal of experimental orthopaedics · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The modified Thomas test was developed to assess the presence of hip flexion contracture and to measure hip extensibility. Despite its widespread use, to the authors' knowledge, its criterion reference validity has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess the criterion reference validity of the modified Thomas test for measuring peak hip extension angle and hip extension deficits, as defined by the hip not being able to extend to 0º, or neutral. Twenty-nine healthy college students (age = 22.00 ± 3.80 years; height = 1.71 ± 0.09 m; body mass = 70.00 ± 15.60 kg) were recruited for this study. Bland-Altman plots revealed poor validity for the modified Thomas test's ability to measure hip extension, which could not be explained by differences in hip flexion ability alone. The modified Thomas test displayed a sensitivity of 31.82% (95% CI [13.86-54.87]) and a specificity of 57.14% (95% CI [18.41-90.10]) for testing hip extension deficits. It appears, however, that by controlling pelvic tilt, much of this variance can be accounted for (r = 0.98). When pelvic tilt is not controlled, the modified Thomas test displays poor criterion reference validity and, as per previous studies, poor reliability. However, when pelvic tilt is controlled, the modified Thomas test appears to be a valid test for evaluating peak hip extension angle.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.