Hoover's sign (leg paresis)
Hoover’s sign of leg paresis is one of two signs named for Charles Franklin Hoover.[1]
One is a maneuver aimed to separate organic from non-organic paresis of the leg.[2] The sign relies on the principle of synergistic contraction. Involuntary extension of the "paralyzed" leg occurs when flexing the contralateral leg against resistance. It has been neglected, although it is a useful clinical test. Essentially, you hold your hand under the contralateral heel and ask the patient to extend the leg off the bed. If you feel pressure from the contralateral heel, the weakness is likely organic. If no pressure is felt, the patient is likely suffering from non-organic limb weakness.
Strong hip muscles can make the test difficult to interpret.[3]
Efforts have been made to use the theory behind the sign to report a quantitative result.[4]
References
- ^ "George Crile, Charles Hoover and John Phillips".
- ^ Koehler PJ, Okun MS (2004). "Important observations prior to the description of the Hoover sign". Neurology. 63 (9): 1693–7. PMID 15534257.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Sonoo M (2004). "Abductor sign: a reliable new sign to detect unilateral non-organic paresis of the lower limb". J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. 75 (1): 121–5. PMC 1757483. PMID 14707320.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Ziv I, Djaldetti R, Zoldan Y, Avraham M, Melamed E (1998). "Diagnosis of "non-organic" limb paresis by a novel objective motor assessment: the quantitative Hoover's test". J. Neurol. 245 (12): 797–802. doi:10.1007/s004150050289. PMID 9840352.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)