APLEY COMPRESSION

TEST

​• Test positioning

The client lies prone with the test knee flexed to 90-degrees.

The therapist stands with the proximal hand on the client's distal thigh for stabilization and the distal hand on the client's heel.

​• Action

With the distal hand, medially and laterally rotate the tibia while applying a downward force through the heel.

​• Positive finding

Pain, clicking, and/or restriction is indicative of either a medial or lateral meniscus tear, depending on the location of symptoms.

​• Special considerations & comments

The test may be repeated with a distraction force (eg, Apley distraction test) applied to the ankle with the distal hand.

An increase in and/or change in location of pain is more indicative of ligamentous versus meniscal pathology.

Pain and/or clicking with a compression test that is followed by an absence of the same symptoms with a distraction test is most likely indicative of meniscal pathology.

The Apley Compression Test is attributed to Dr. Alan Apley, who developed it for assessing meniscal injuries.

Dr. James Cyriax's work in orthopedic assessment has also contributed to refining its application in diagnosing knee pathology.