Term
| Grasp the tibia of the affected ankle of the supine patient with one hand and the calcaneus with the other hand. Push down on the tibia and pull the calcaneus upwards. If this action causes the talus to slide anteriorly = tear in the anterior talofibular ligament. |
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Definition
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Term
| With the patient in the supine position, push on the head of the patient’s first metatarsal bone with your thumb and have the patient push down [plantar flex] on your thumb. Normally both the medial and lateral borders of the foot plantar flex. When only the lateral border of the foot plantar flexes and the medial border dorsiflexes, Duchenne’s sign is present. When this sign is present, it is indicative of a lesion of the superficial peroneal nerve which innervates the muscles responsible for plantar flexion of the medial aspect of the foot. |
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Definition
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Term
| Ask the patient to stand. Look at the Achilles tendon from behind. If there is medial curvature of the Achilles tendon, this is indicative of excessive foot pronation as is seen in Pes planus. |
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Definition
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Term
| Apply a transverse squeeze to the heads of the metatarsals of the affected foot of the patient from lateral to medial. If this action causes pain = interdigital [Morton’s] neuroma or metatarsalgia. |
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Definition
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Term
| With the patient in the prone position, passively flex the patient’s knee on the affected side and apply a squeeze to the calf of the affected leg of the patient. If this action does not cause plantar flexion of the foot = complete rupture of the Achilles tendon. |
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Definition
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Term
| Percuss the area just behind the medial malleolus of the affected side. If there is pain = tarsal tunnel syndrome |
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Definition
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Term
| Grab hold of the calcaneus while the other hand stabilizes the patient’s leg. Attempt to evert the patient’s ankle. If this action causes pain = deltoid ligament damage [eversion sprain]. |
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Definition
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Term
| Grab hold of the calcaneus while the other hand stabilizes the patient’s leg. Attempt to invert the patient’s ankle. If this action causes pain = talofibular or calcaneofibular ligament damage [inversion sprain]. |
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Definition
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