1. Foot and Ankle Special tests

2. Used to help narrow down the potential structures injured
Special Tests
Used to help narrow down the potential structures injured
Help provide preliminary diagnosis
No “official” diagnosis can occur without imaging

3. What does it all mean?
Patient Position: literally, how is the patient/athlete’s body positioned?
Position of Examiner: YOU are the examiner; how is your body positioned so that you can get the best results from performing this test?
Evaluative Procedure: What motions/actions do you do to perform the test?
Positive Test: what signs/symptoms occur that make the test positive for what injury/involvement it is testing for?
Implications: Something occurred when you performed the test; what does that action imply?

4. Anterior Drawer
Patient Position: Short sitting with knees flexed over edge of table
Position of Examiner: sitting/squatting in front of ath; one hand stabilizing distal tib/fib, other hand cupping calcaneus
Evaluative Procedure: calcaneus and talus are drawn forward while distal tib/fib are stabilized
Positive Test: Talus slides anteriorly when compared bilaterally; maybe be a “clunk” as talus relocates; ath may experience pain
Implications: Sprain to the ATFL and associated Ligaments

6. Talar Tilt (Stress test)
Patient Position: Short sitting with knees flexed over edge of table
Position of Examiner: sitting/squatting in front of ath; one hand stabilizing distal tib/fib, other hand cupping calcaneus
Evaluative Procedure: hand holding calcaneus provides and inversion and eversion stress, causing the talus to tilt
Positive Test: Talus gaps (greater than 10degrees) compared bilaterally; pain is produced
Implications: Inversion stress – Sprain of the Calcaneofibular ligament; Eversion Stress – Deltoid Ligament

7. Eversion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvoc-cmaB5s
Inversion:

8. Kleiger’s Test
Patient Position: Short sitting with knees flexed over edge of table
Position of Examiner: sitting/squatting in front of ath; one hand stabilizing distal tib/fib, other hand cupping calcaneus
Evaluative Procedure: Place foot in dorsiflexion, hand holding calcaneus provides eversion stress
Positive Test: Pain is produced in the anterolateral section of the ankle; gapping may be present
Implications: Syndesmotic sprain (High ankle sprain)

9. Thompson Test
Patient Position: Prone with foot over edge of table
Position of Examiner: Stand at side of ath with one hand placed on the Gastrocnemius
Evaluative Procedure: squeeze calf while observing for plantarflexion
Positive Test: when calf is squeezed, no plantarflexion occurs
Implications: Achilles Tendon Rupture