Ankle & Foot
Syndesmosis (High Ankle Sprain)
Evidence: confirmed
Squeeze Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing syndesmotic ankle sprains (High Ankle Sprain).
- Assessing the integrity of the interosseous membrane.
How to Perform
- Action: Compress (squeeze) the tibia and fibula together at the mid-calf level.
- Observation: Check for pain located distally at the ankle joint.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain occurs at the ankle (syndesmosis), not at the spot being squeezed.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 30 %
- Specificity: 93 %
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Squeeze 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 Ankle & Foot region, combining the Squeeze Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment (7th ed.). Elsevier.
