Ankle & Foot Muscle & Tendon Evidence: confirmed

Silfverskiöld Test Special Test

Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide

Silfverskiöld Test Orthopedic Special Test

What is it used for?

  • Differentiating between tightness in the Gastrocnemius muscle versus the Soleus muscle.

How to Perform

  • Step 1: With the patient's knee extended (straight), passively dorsiflex the foot and assess the range.
  • Step 2: Flex the patient's knee to 90 degrees and passively dorsiflex the foot again.

Interpretation of Results

  • Tight Gastrocnemius: Dorsiflexion is limited when the knee is straight but improves significantly when the knee is bent.
  • Tight Soleus/Achilles: Dorsiflexion is limited in both positions (knee straight and knee bent).

References

  • Miller, M. D. (2020). Miller's Review of Orthopaedics (8th ed.). Elsevier.