Knee
Meniscus
Evidence: suggestive
Apley’s Compression Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Meniscal Tears.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient prone, knee flexed 90°.
- Action: Apply a downward compression force through the heel while rotating the tibia internally and externally.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain or clicking during compression (loading the meniscus).
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 60%
- Specificity: 70%
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Apley’s Compression Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Knee region, combining the Apley’s Compression Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
