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Schober's test
System: Muscles, Bones & Joints Signs · All muscles, bones & joints signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Marks are made on the lower back 10 cm apart; on bending fully forward, the distance between them increases by less than about 5 cm when the spine is stiff.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with reduced lumbar spine flexibility, classically in ankylosing spondylitis.
◈ Behind the name
Paul Schober (1865–1943), German physician.
Related signs — Muscles, Bones & Joints Signs
Browse the S section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.