Standing or supine
If you wish to palpate on the skin, provide a private room or a sheet for cover. If you think this is necessary, ask the patient if he/she is willing to uncover the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) area. While the skin can not be viewed with clothes covering the area, the sartorius should be palpable over clothing.
Anterolateral to the patient.
Please stand (or lie on your back). May I touch the front of your hip bone? (or point to the demonstrated area). Now please bring your foot toward your opposite knee (or demonstrate).
Guide the patient to stand (or lie on his/her back). With the patient relaxed and with permission, place your fingers on the ASIS and area distally and medially to the ASIS. Ask the patient to flex, abduct and laterally rotate the hip and palpate the sartorius. With unclear muscle activity (more likely in lying supine), increase the contraction of the sartorius by asking the patient to flex and laterally rotate the hip while you provide a push on the distal thigh in the direction of hip extension and a push on the leg in the direction of hip medial rotation.
VH - Sartorius