Apley’s Distraction Test

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

• To test for the integrity of the Collateral Knee Ligaments

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

• Patient is prone, with their affected knee flexed 90°
• Examiner places their own knee on patient’s posterior thigh to stabilize
• Examiner grasps patient’s leg proximal to the ankle
• Examiner applies traction to the tibia towards the ceiling (this distracts the knee joint)
• Then apply internal and external rotation of the tibia while tractioning.

What is the positive result?

• Positive Sign:
  • Pain on the medial side = medial collateral ligament damage/ injury
  • Pain on the lateral side = lateral collateral ligament damage/ injury

References

• Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal System 3rd Edition.
• Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, And Intervention 3rd Edition.