OnExam
Schober's Test
Quantifies lumbar forward flexion
Performing the Test
Patient: standing
With a pen, mark the lumbosacral junction, 10 cm above, and 5 cm below
Lumbosacral junction landmarking: L4 is at plane of iliac wings, palpate down to L5-S1 (lumbosacral junction)
Ask patient to maximally forward flex, reaching for toes
Measure distance between middle mark and top mark
Normal: 5cm distance increase
Measure distance between middle mark and bottom mark
Normal: should remain same
References
Bickley L. Bate’s Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. 10th ed. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009.
Hurley K. OSCE and Clinical Skills Handbook. Halifax: Elsevier Canada; 2005.