Stinchfield test: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

Posted on February 28, 2026 | by drhip

Stinchfield test Introduction (What it is)

The Stinchfield test is a physical exam maneuver used to assess hip-related pain.
It involves lifting a straight leg against resistance to see whether this reproduces symptoms.
It is commonly used in orthopedic, sports medicine, and physical therapy evaluations of hip and groin pain.
The test is sometimes called the resisted straight leg raise test.

Why Stinchfield test used (Purpose / benefits)

The Stinchfield test is used to help clinicians sort out where hip-area pain might be coming from during a musculoskeletal exam. Hip and groin symptoms can overlap with pain from the lower back, pelvis, abdominal wall, or nearby tendons, so a targeted exam maneuver can be a useful starting point.

At a high level, the test is designed to:

Reproduce familiar pain in a controlled way by loading the hip while the patient actively contracts the hip flexor muscles.
Screen for possible intra-articular hip involvement, meaning pain that may relate to structures inside the hip joint (such as cartilage or the labrum), while acknowledging that the test is not specific.
Identify patterns that guide next steps, such as whether additional hip-focused tests, imaging, or another part of the exam should be emphasized.
Provide a quick comparison between sides when symptoms are unilateral.

Importantly, the Stinchfield test is not a standalone diagnosis. It is one piece of information that is interpreted alongside the patient’s history, other exam findings, and—when appropriate—imaging or other studies. How heavily it is weighted varies by clinician and case.

Indications (When orthopedic clinicians use it)

Common scenarios where clinicians may include the Stinchfield test in an evaluation include:

Hip or groin pain that is worse with walking, stairs, running, or getting in/out of a car
Suspected intra-articular hip pathology (pain potentially arising from within the hip joint)
Differentiating hip-related pain from lumbar spine or sacroiliac region contributors
Pain after a fall or twist when hip motion is limited but plain symptoms are not clearly localized
Assessment of hip pain in athletes (especially with cutting, pivoting, or kicking activities)
Evaluation of anterior hip pain where hip flexor involvement is possible
Follow-up assessments where symptoms are changing over time and a repeatable measure is helpful

Contraindications / when it’s NOT ideal

The Stinchfield test may be avoided, modified, or deferred in situations where resisted hip flexion could worsen symptoms or is unlikely to be informative. Examples include:

Suspected fracture (hip, femur, pelvis) or an injury where active lifting may be unsafe
Severe acute pain where a gentle range-of-motion exam is more appropriate than resisted testing
Immediate post-operative restrictions after certain hip, abdominal, or pelvic procedures (protocols vary)
Marked weakness or inability to cooperate with the maneuver due to neurological conditions, high pain levels, or limited understanding
Situations where another exam approach may be more informative, such as:
Significant low back pain with neurological symptoms (a spine-focused exam may take priority)
Clear signs of infection/systemic illness (medical evaluation is prioritized over provocative maneuvers)
A presentation where imaging is urgently indicated (varies by clinician and case)

If the test cannot be performed safely or comfortably, clinicians typically rely on alternative exam maneuvers and the overall clinical picture.

How it works (Mechanism / physiology)

The Stinchfield test relies on a simple biomechanical principle: active hip flexion against resistance increases muscular demand and can increase stress across the hip region.

Key components involved:

Hip flexor muscles, especially the iliopsoas (a major hip flexor), and additional contributors such as the rectus femoris.
The hip joint (femoroacetabular joint), including intra-articular structures like cartilage and the labrum, which can be sensitive in certain conditions.
Surrounding tissues that may also generate pain with resisted hip flexion, such as the tendons, the anterior hip capsule, or nearby pelvic/abdominal structures.

What a “positive” response generally means:

A positive Stinchfield test is typically described as reproduction of the patient’s familiar pain (often in the groin or anterior hip) when they lift the straight leg against resistance.
Some clinicians also note weakness or pain-limited effort, though interpretation varies by clinician and case.

Onset and duration:

The effect is immediate and reversible in the sense that it is a momentary exam provocation; pain, if provoked, typically eases when the resistance stops.
The test does not create a lasting “result” like a lab value; it produces an exam finding that must be interpreted in context.

Because multiple structures can hurt during resisted hip flexion, the Stinchfield test is often described as sensitive to hip-region problems but not highly specific for a single diagnosis.

Stinchfield test Procedure overview (How it’s applied)

The Stinchfield test is not a treatment. It is a clinical exam maneuver performed during a hip evaluation.

A general workflow looks like this:

Evaluation/exam – The clinician reviews symptoms (location, triggers, duration) and performs a broader hip and lumbar screening exam.
Preparation – The patient is usually positioned lying on their back (supine). – The clinician explains the maneuver and asks the patient to report where they feel pain (groin, lateral hip, thigh, back).
Intervention/testing – The patient lifts the straight leg a short distance (commonly around a modest hip flexion angle), keeping the knee straight. – The clinician applies downward resistance while the patient tries to hold the leg up. – The test may be repeated on the other side for comparison.
Immediate checks – The clinician notes whether pain is reproduced, where it is located, and whether there is visible weakness or guarding. – Findings are interpreted together with other exam tests (range of motion, impingement maneuvers, palpation, gait observation).
Follow-up – Depending on the overall assessment, next steps may include additional physical exam maneuvers, imaging, or conservative management discussions. This varies by clinician and case.

Small differences in how the test is performed (leg height, amount of resistance, and patient instructions) can influence symptoms, which is one reason clinicians avoid over-interpreting a single finding.

Types / variations

While the core idea is consistent—resisted hip flexion—the Stinchfield test may appear in practice with variations, including:

Classic Stinchfield test (supine resisted straight leg raise)
The patient lifts a straight leg while the clinician resists downward.
Modified Stinchfield (different hip flexion angle or resistance level)
Some clinicians adjust the leg position or apply graded resistance to reduce discomfort or clarify symptom reproduction.
Pain-focused vs strength-focused interpretation
In many hip evaluations, the emphasis is on whether the maneuver reproduces familiar hip/groin pain. In other contexts, clinicians may pay closer attention to weakness, understanding that pain can inhibit strength.
Seated resisted hip flexion variation
In some settings, resisted hip flexion is tested with the patient seated (knee bent). This is not identical to the classic resisted straight leg raise but is sometimes used when supine testing is difficult.
Use as part of a cluster of hip tests
Clinicians frequently pair it with other maneuvers (for example, FABER, FADIR, log roll, and hip scour) rather than treating it as a standalone screen.

Terminology can vary across training programs and clinics. Some clinicians document “resisted SLR” even if they do not label it specifically as the Stinchfield test.

Pros and cons

Pros:

Quick to perform in a standard clinic exam
Requires no equipment in most settings
Can help reproduce symptoms in a controlled, repeatable way
Useful for side-to-side comparison
Fits well within a broader hip and lumbar screening exam
Can be adapted (modified) if a patient cannot tolerate the classic position

Cons:

Not specific: pain can come from multiple sources (hip joint, hip flexors, pelvis, or spine)
Results depend on patient effort and pain tolerance
Technique varies (angle, resistance), which can affect consistency between examiners
May be difficult to interpret when pain is widespread or poorly localized
Not appropriate in some acute injuries or early post-operative states
A “negative” test does not rule out many important hip conditions

Aftercare & longevity

Because the Stinchfield test is a brief exam maneuver, it typically does not require aftercare in the way a procedure or injection would. The main “outcome” is the information it provides to guide the rest of the evaluation.

What can affect the usefulness (and “staying power”) of the finding:

Current symptom severity: high pain levels can cause guarding and make most provocative tests positive.
Location of pain: groin/anterior hip pain during resisted hip flexion may be interpreted differently than isolated low back pain, but overlap is common.
Coexisting conditions: hip osteoarthritis, lumbar spine disorders, abdominal wall strains, and tendon problems can coexist and blur the meaning of the test.
Consistency over time: repeating the test at future visits may show change as symptoms fluctuate, but this is not the same as a permanent result.
Exam context: clinicians typically rely on the Stinchfield test as part of a broader exam and may place more weight on combined patterns than on a single test.

If symptoms persist or evolve, clinicians may reassess with additional exam maneuvers, functional testing, or imaging—choices that vary by clinician and case.

Alternatives / comparisons

The Stinchfield test is one option among many ways to evaluate hip and groin pain. Comparisons are generally about what each tool can and cannot suggest, rather than one being universally “better.”

Common alternatives and complements include:

Observation and functional assessment
Gait assessment, single-leg stance tolerance, stair mechanics, and sit-to-stand patterns can reveal functional limitations that a single provocative test may miss.
Other hip physical exam maneuvers
FABER (flexion, abduction, external rotation): often used to assess hip and sometimes sacroiliac region symptom provocation.
FADIR (flexion, adduction, internal rotation): often used when femoroacetabular impingement is a consideration, recognizing that it is also not perfectly specific.
Log roll test: passive rotation of the leg; sometimes used to assess intra-articular irritation with less muscular effort.
Hip scour (quadrant) test: compressive/rotational maneuver that may provoke joint-related symptoms in some cases.
Strength and tendon-focused tests
Targeted resisted tests (hip flexion with the knee bent, hip adduction/abduction) may help explore whether pain is more consistent with tendon or muscle involvement, though overlap remains common.
Imaging (when clinically indicated)
X-rays may be used to assess bony alignment and degenerative changes.
MRI may be used to evaluate soft tissues and intra-articular structures, depending on the question and local practice patterns.
Imaging findings need clinical correlation; structural changes can exist with or without symptoms.
Diagnostic injections (in selected cases)
In some clinical pathways, an image-guided injection may be used to help clarify whether pain is coming from inside the hip joint versus outside it. Whether this is appropriate varies by clinician and case.

Overall, the Stinchfield test is best understood as a screening and symptom-reproduction tool that helps direct further evaluation rather than replace it.

Stinchfield test Common questions (FAQ)

Q: Does a positive Stinchfield test mean I have a labral tear or arthritis?
A positive Stinchfield test generally means the maneuver reproduced pain during resisted hip flexion. That finding can occur with different conditions, including intra-articular hip issues and hip flexor-related pain, and it is not specific to a single diagnosis. Clinicians usually interpret it alongside other exam findings and, if needed, imaging.

Q: Where should I feel pain during the Stinchfield test?
Clinicians often ask whether the pain is felt in the groin/anterior hip, lateral hip, thigh, or low back. Groin or deep anterior hip pain may raise concern for hip-joint involvement, but location alone does not confirm a cause. Overlap is common, and symptom patterns vary by person.

Q: Is the Stinchfield test supposed to hurt?
The test is designed to see whether it reproduces your familiar pain, so discomfort can occur if the underlying issue is irritated by resisted hip flexion. However, it should be performed in a controlled way and stopped if pain is excessive. Tolerance and technique vary by clinician and case.

Q: How accurate is the Stinchfield test?
Accuracy depends on what diagnosis is being considered and how the test is performed and interpreted. In general, it is viewed as a helpful screening maneuver but not a definitive test for any single condition. Clinicians typically combine it with other exam maneuvers and clinical history.

Q: How long do the results of the Stinchfield test last?
The test does not produce a lasting “result” like a laboratory test; it produces an exam finding at that moment in time. Findings can change as pain levels change, with rest, activity modification, rehabilitation, or progression of an underlying condition. Reassessment over time may be useful, depending on the case.

Q: Is the Stinchfield test safe?
For many people, it is a routine and low-risk exam maneuver. It may be avoided or modified when there is concern for fracture, severe acute pain, or certain post-operative restrictions. Safety considerations depend on the individual situation.

Q: Will I need imaging if the Stinchfield test is positive?
Not necessarily. A positive test is one data point and does not automatically lead to imaging. Decisions about X-rays or MRI typically depend on the overall history, exam, duration of symptoms, and clinical concern, and this varies by clinician and case.

Q: Can I drive or go back to work after this test?
Because it is a brief physical exam maneuver, most people can resume usual activities immediately. If the test significantly increases pain, a clinician may adjust the rest of the exam and discuss next steps, but the test itself does not usually impose restrictions. Activity decisions depend on symptoms and the underlying condition.

Q: What does it mean if the Stinchfield test is negative but I still have hip pain?
A negative test means resisted straight leg raising did not reproduce pain in that moment. Many hip and groin conditions can still be present with a negative Stinchfield test, especially if symptoms are activity-specific or triggered by other positions. Clinicians typically use additional exam maneuvers and history to continue the evaluation.

Q: How much does the Stinchfield test cost?
The test is part of a physical examination, so it is usually included in the cost of an office visit or therapy session rather than billed as a separate item. Out-of-pocket cost varies widely based on setting, insurance coverage, and region. For exact pricing, clinics typically provide estimates directly.