Hip
Intra-Articular
Evidence: suggestive
Heel Strike Test (Anvil Test) Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Screening for Hip Fracture or severe joint pathology.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies supine with legs straight.
- Action: Examiner firmly strikes the bottom of the patient's heel with a fist.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Sharp pain in the groin or hip joint (force travels up the femur).
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Heel Strike Test (Anvil 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 Hip region, combining the Heel Strike Test (Anvil Test) with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
