Ankle & Foot
Muscle & Tendon
Evidence: suggestive
Matles Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Visual assessment for Achilles Tendon Rupture.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies prone (on stomach) with knees bent at 90°.
- Observation: Look at the angle of the feet.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: The injured foot falls into neutral or slight dorsiflexion (flat), unlike the healthy foot which remains slightly pointed (plantar flexed).
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 88 %
- Specificity: 85 %
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Matles 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 Ankle & Foot region, combining the Matles Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment (7th ed.). Elsevier.
