Ober test: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview
The Ober test is a hands-on physical exam maneuver used to assess tightness along the outside of the hip and thigh. It is most commonly associated with the iliotibial band (IT band) and the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscle. Clinicians use it in orthopedic, sports medicine, and physical therapy evaluations of hip, thigh, and some knee symptoms. It is one piece of a broader hip exam, not a diagnosis by itself.