Apley’s Compression Test

What is the "Apley’s Compression Test" used for?

• Testing for Meniscal Injury

How to perform the "Apley’s Compression Test"?

• Patient is prone.
• Patient then flexes affected knee to 90°
• Examiner’s one hand grasps patient’s heel and ankle while the other hand stabilizes the leg.
• Examiner compresses the flexed knee joint and the menisci –by pushing the patient’s foot and tibia down into the table, followed by internal and external rotation of the tibia.

What is the positive result?

• POSITIVE SIGN:
  • Pain on the medial aspect = medial meniscus damage/injury
  • Pain on the lateral aspect = lateral meniscus injury/damage

Test Accuracy

• Sensitivity: 83 %
• Specificity: 71 %