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.