Single leg shallow knee bend

The single leg shallow knee bend can be used as a screening examination for hip abductor weakness. When a person with normal strength performs the movement, the pelvis remains level and the hip and knee maintain their alignment, as seen in photographs A and B above. In a person with hip abductor weakness, the movement causes the pelvis to tilt towards the standing leg, while the knee of standing leg caves in (ie, moves medial to the ipsilateral hip). This is demonstrated in photograph C above.