Childress Sign (Duck Walk Test) Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Functional test for Meniscal Tears (specifically posterior horn).
How to Perform
- Action: Patient squats fully and attempts to walk forward (waddle) in the squat position.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain, inability to perform the walk, or a clicking sound in the posterior knee.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 55%
- Specificity: 57%
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Childress Sign (Duck Walk 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 Childress Sign (Duck Walk Test) with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
