Which muscle test would likely be positive for a patient with a forward flexed posture after a stroke?

The Thomas test assesses hip flexor tightness and is particularly relevant for a patient exhibiting a forward flexed posture, such as might be seen after a stroke. In this condition, the hip flexors, primarily the iliopsoas, may be excessively tight or shortened due to compensatory postures adopted by the individual following neurological impairment.

When a patient with a forward flexed posture is evaluated using the Thomas test, one would place them supine and have them bring one knee to the chest while observing the opposite leg. If the opposite leg lifts off the table or cannot lie flat, it indicates tightness in the hip flexors. This finding is likely to be positive in a person with a forward flexed posture post-stroke, as their abnormal positioning may result from adaptations related to muscle imbalances and post-stroke pathology.

In contrast, other tests mentioned assess different conditions and do not directly relate to the tightness of the hip flexors or the specific posture described. For example, Phalen's test evaluates for carpal tunnel syndrome, the deep tendon reflex test measures the integrity of the reflex arc in the nervous system, and Finkelstein test is used to diagnose de Quervain's tenosynovitis in the wrist