Ankle & Foot
Muscle & Tendon
Evidence: confirmed
Single Leg Heel Raise Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Testing the strength and function of the Posterior Tibial Tendon.
- Diagnosing acquired flatfoot deformity.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient stands on one foot (using a wall or chair for balance if needed).
- Action: Ask the patient to rise up onto the ball of the foot (tip-toe) repeatedly.
- Observation: Watch the movement of the heel.
Interpretation of Results
- Normal: The patient can lift the heel easily, and the heel tilts inward (inverts) as it rises.
- Positive: The patient cannot lift the heel, experiences pain, or the heel remains straight/tilted outward (valgus).
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Single Leg Heel Raise 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 Single Leg Heel Raise with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Miller, M. D. (2020). Miller's Review of Orthopaedics (8th ed.). Elsevier.
