College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

A patient with a capsular pattern restriction of the hip joint will have limited motion not only in flexion and medial rotation, but also in which other motion?

1. Abduction

2. Extension

3. Adduction

4. Lateral rotation

The correct answer is: Abduction

In a capsular pattern restriction of the hip joint, the typical limitation of motion is characterized by a specific pattern where flexion and medial rotation are primarily affected, along with one additional motion. In this case, abduction is also restricted. The reason abduction is the correct choice lies in the understanding of capsular patterns, which reflect the way joint movement is typically affected in the presence of capsular tightness or pathological changes in the joint structure. For the hip joint, the classic capsular pattern indicates that flexion, abduction, and medial rotation are more severely restricted than extension and lateral rotation. Therefore, while flexion and medial rotation are the most affected, abduction is also limited and this pattern can suggest underlying conditions such as arthritis or internal derangement of the joint. The remaining options, extension and lateral rotation, are typically less affected in a capsular pattern of restriction at the hip, thus distinguishing why abduction is the third motion to be notably limited alongside flexion and medial rotation.