Hurdle Step screening and scoring
Setup and purpose
The Hurdle Step is a bilateral single-leg stance pattern. It tests hip and knee mobility, ankle stability, pelvic control, and core stability while stepping over a hurdle. The hurdle height is set to the tibial tuberosity. The patient stands with feet together, toes under the hurdle, and a dowel across the shoulders behind the neck. The patient steps over the hurdle, touches the heel to the floor, and returns to the start. Both sides are tested and scored.
Scoring criteria
- 3: Hips, knees, and ankles remain aligned in the sagittal plane; minimal to no lumbar movement; the dowel and hurdle remain parallel.
- 2: Loss of alignment in any plane, movement of the lumbar spine, or the dowel and hurdle are not parallel.
- 1: Contact with the hurdle or loss of balance.
- 0: Pain during the movement. The lower of the two side scores is used for the total, and any left-right difference is an asymmetry.
Worked example
On the left, the patient steps over the hurdle, the dowel stays parallel to the floor, the pelvis remains level, and the heel touches lightly. Score 3. On the right, the patient's right hip hikes, the dowel tilts, and the trunk leans slightly. Score 2. The asymmetry is flagged, and the total uses 2 for this pattern. If the right foot contacts the hurdle, the score is 1, not 2.
Traps
- Setting the hurdle too high or too low; it must be at the tibial tuberosity.
- Watching only the legs and missing dowel tilt or lumbar movement.
- Scoring 2 for a loss of balance when the criteria say 1.
- Testing only one side and missing asymmetry.
- Not asking about pain; pain is 0. Document which side failed.