Which statement best describes Clark's test result?

• A. Inability to contract the quadriceps without pain.
• B. Inability to contract the quadriceps without pain during resisted knee extension with patellar compression.
• C. Painful contraction of the quadriceps during patellar compression.
• D. Normal quadriceps contraction with no pain during patellar compression.

Answer: (B)

Clark's test checks patellofemoral joint health by provoking pain when the quadriceps contracts while the patella is compressed. A positive result means pain is reproduced during resisted knee extension with patellar compression, indicating patellofemoral irritation. This is best captured by saying there is an inability to contract the quadriceps without pain under those conditions—the contraction against resistance with patellar compression elicits pain, whereas a pain-free contraction would suggest a negative test. If there’s no pain during the maneuver, the test would not indicate patellofemoral pathology.