Ankle tests

Question 1

Ankle orthopedic tests

Answer 1

Talar tilt

Anterior and posterior draw

Tinnels sign

Plantar Fasciitis test

Mortons neuroma test

Question 2

Talar tilt

Answer 2

Looks for:
– assesses ligaments on the medial and lateral side of the ankle
– Lateral- ATFL, CFL and PTFL
– Medial- deltoid ligament

+VE:
– pain within the ankle while foot is in certain position suggests certain ligament pain

How:
– ATFL- put ankle into planter flexion and turn ankle in

– CFL- put ankle into neutral (90 degrees), turn ankle in and out

PTFL- ankle into doorsflexion and turn foot in and out

Question 3

Anterior and posterior draw

Answer 3

Anterior draw:
Looks for:
– damage to ATFL

+VE:
– excess movement of tibia backwards (may see a small dimple on the joint line)

How:
– foot planted to bed, push tibia backwards

Posterior draw:
Looks for:
– PTFL damage or weakness

+VE:
– Excess forward movement of the tibia

How:
– foot planted to bed, pull the tibia forward

Question 4

Tinnels sign

Answer 4

Looks for:
– assesses posterior tibial nerve

+VE:
– change of sensation within the foot when the nerve is tapped

How:
– foot in neutral, find the posterior tibial nerve (just below and behind the medial malleolus), and tap it

Question 5

Plantar fasciitis

Answer 5

Looks for:
– plantar fasciitis within the foot

+VE:
– pain or reproduction of symptoms

How:
– push up on pt toes with knee flexed, if there’s still no symptoms, you can extend the pt leg and keep pushing up on toes. Can press to see for any osteophytes

Question 6

Mortons neuroma

Answer 6

Looks for:
– neuroma in the foot

+VE:
– pain, tingling or reproduction of symptoms during test
– clicking of the digits

How:
– squeeze pt MCP joints