Can a Clinician Accurately Diagnose Iliopsoas Tendinitis on a Physical Examination?

The authors aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of physical examination techniques for iliopsoas tendinitis in patients with anterior hip pain, using ultrasound-guided anesthetic injections as a reference standard. They found that specific physical examination findings, such as weakness and tenderness associated with seated hip flexion, demonstrated high sensitivity and predictive value for diagnosing iliopsoas tendinitis, while MRI showed limited sensitivity. The study suggests that a focused physical examination can facilitate a rapid and accurate diagnosis of this condition.