Patellar Apprehension Test

What is the "Patellar Apprehension Test" used for?

• To test whether the patella is likely to dislocate laterally

How to perform the "Patellar Apprehension Test"?

• Patient is supine with their affected knee extended
• Examiner uses a slow and moderate pressure against the medial aspect of the patella moving it in a lateral direction
• Examiner observes patient’s reaction

What is the positive result?

• POSITIVE SIGN: Patient expresses apprehension and/ or might try to move their affected knee away from the pressure

Test Accuracy

• Sensitivity: 100 %
• Specificity: 88 %

References

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19193601/
• Knee Juru – Patellar apprehension test