Knee
Meniscus
Evidence: confirmed
Bounce Home Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Detecting Meniscal Tears or loose bodies blocking extension.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient supine.
- Action: Examiner flexes the knee completely, cups the heel, and allows the knee to drop passively into full extension.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: The knee does not extend fully (springy block) or causes sharp joint line pain.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 47%
- Specificity: 67%
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Bounce Home Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Knee region, combining the Bounce Home Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
