Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Barlow maneuver
Introduction
The Barlow maneuver is a physical examination performed on infants to screen for developmental dysplasia of the hip. It is named for Thomas Barlow, a British royal physician.
The maneuver is performed by adducting the hip (bringing the thigh towards the midline) while extending the hip at the thigh (pushing the thigh posteriorly).[1] If the hip is dislocatable – that is, if the hip can be popped out of socked with this maneuver – the test is considered positive. The Ortolani maneuver is then used, to confirm that the positive finding (i.e., that the hip actually dislocated).