II. Indications
- Heel Pain suggestive of Achilles Tendon Rupture
III. Technique: Standard Thompson Test
- Patient lies prone with knee flexed at 90 degrees
- Examiner squeezes calf
- Observe for plantar flexion of foot
IV. Interpretation: Standard Thompson Test
- Normal Response: Plantar flexion as reflex response
- Falsely normal if accessory Muscles squeezed
- Achilles Tendon Rupture: Plantar flexion absent
V. Technique: Confirmatory Test (if Thompson Test equivocal)
- Patients foot allowed to rest
- Sphygmomanometer applied to affected calf
- Inflate sphygmomanometer to 100 mmHg
- Dorsiflex foot and observe pressure gauge
- Normal response: Pressure rises and stays at 140 mmHg
- Achilles Tendon Rupture: Only flicker of movement
VI. References
- Greene (2001) Musculoskeletal Care p.420-1
- Mazzone (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(9):1805-10 [PubMed]
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Related Studies
| Concepts | Diagnostic Procedure (T060) |
| SnomedCT | 86215004 |
| English | thompson's test, simmonds test, squeeze test, Thompson's test (procedure), Squeeze test, Thompson's squeeze test, Simmonds' test, Thompson's test |
| Spanish | prueba de Thompson, prueba de compresión de Thompson, prueba de Simmonds, prueba de Thompson (procedimiento) |
Ontology: Thompson test for Achilles tendon rupture (C2088011)
| Concepts | Diagnostic Procedure (T060) |
| English | Thompson test for Achilles tendon rupture (physical finding), Thompson test for Achilles tendon rupture |
