What is a grade of 0 on the Brush/Stroke Test?

What is a grade of 0 on the Brush/Stroke Test?

• A. No wave produced on downstroke
• B. Small wave on medial side with downstroke
• C. Larger bulge on medial side with downstroke
• D. Effusion spontaneously returns to medial side after upstroke

Answer: (A)

This test checks for knee effusion by moving joint fluid with a brushing motion and feeling for a wave at the medial knee as you stroke down. If there is no fluid enough to shift, no wave is felt during the downstroke. A grade with no wave on the downstroke means there is no detectable effusion at the time of examination. If fluid were present, you'd feel a wave or bulge along the medial side as the fluid is displaced, which would give higher grades. The other descriptions reflect some amount of fluid manifesting as a wave or bulge, not a zero-grade finding.

This test checks for knee effusion by moving joint fluid with a brushing motion and feeling for a wave at the medial knee as you stroke down. If there is no fluid enough to shift, no wave is felt during the downstroke.

A grade with no wave on the downstroke means there is no detectable effusion at the time of examination. If fluid were present, you'd feel a wave or bulge along the medial side as the fluid is displaced, which would give higher grades. The other descriptions reflect some amount of fluid manifesting as a wave or bulge, not a zero-grade finding.