Inline Lunge screening and scoring
Setup and purpose
The Inline Lunge tests single-leg stance, hip and knee mobility, ankle stability, and trunk control in a split stance. Measure the tibia from the floor to the tibial tuberosity. Place the rear foot on a 2x6 board with the toe at the start line. Place the front heel at the tibial-length mark. The dowel is held behind the back, contacting the head, thoracic spine, and sacrum. The patient lowers until the rear knee touches the board, then returns. Both sides are scored. The test is not a measure of leg strength; it is a test of controlled mobility and stability. Use the same tibial-length mark for both sides.
Scoring criteria
- 3: Minimal to no torso movement; feet remain in the sagittal plane; the rear knee touches the board behind the front heel; dowel contact is maintained at all three points.
- 2: Torso moves, the knee does not touch the board, the feet lose the sagittal plane, or the dowel loses contact.
- 1: Loss of balance.
- 0: Pain. The lower side score counts, and a left-right difference is an asymmetry.
Worked example
Left side: the patient lowers smoothly, the rear knee touches the board, the dowel stays in contact, and the torso remains upright. Score 3. Right side: the patient's torso leans forward, the dowel lifts off the sacrum, but the knee still touches. Score 2. The asymmetry is flagged. If the patient loses balance and steps out, the score is 1, not 2.
Traps
- Measuring tibia incorrectly; use floor to tibial tuberosity.
- Placing the rear toe behind or ahead of the start line.
- Forgetting the three dowel contact points.
- Scoring 1 when the knee simply misses the board; that is a 2.
- Not testing both sides or not recording asymmetry.