Apley Test

How does the Apley test work?

The Apley test is a series of movements to check your symptoms and range of motion (how far you can move your knee joint). The test is simple and includes the following steps:

• You’ll lie on your stomach (prone).
• Your provider will lean their knee on the back of your thigh to hold your leg in place.
• Your provider will bend your knee to 90 degrees (perpendicular to the rest of your leg).
• They’ll lightly pull up on your knee.
• They’ll rotate your lower leg away from the center of your body then back toward the center of your body.
• After this, your provider might reset and do the same motions, but instead of pulling up on your lower leg, they’ll press down lightly. They might refer to this as applying compression or Apley’s compression test.

Your provider will probably perform an Apley test on both legs, starting with your uninjured leg. This will help them understand your usual range of motion before doing the test on your injured leg.

The Apley test’s movements apply mild stress to your meniscus. They’re similar to the kind of tension that’s applied to your knee while you use it normally.

While they’re moving your leg and knee, your provider will ask you if you’re feeling any pain or if your knee feels like it’s sticking or locking. They’ll also listen for a popping in your knee, or feel for your knee rotating too far one way or the other. This lets them check for where your meniscus might be torn.

How do I prepare for an Apley test?

You don’t need to do anything to prepare for an Apley test. Just visit your provider as soon as possible if you’ve injured your knee or you notice any new symptoms.

What should I expect during an Apley test?

Try to relax during the Apley test — if you tense up it might affect your provider’s ability to perform the test.

Because the Apley test is a series of physical motions, tell your provider everything you’re feeling — especially if any of the movements hurt or make you uncomfortable.

Any pain, discomfort or other symptoms you feel during an Apley test will help your provider know where your meniscus is torn, or what other kind of injury you might have.

What should I expect after an Apley test?

Your provider will probably recommend some imaging tests to diagnose an injury in your knee, even after they perform an Apley test.

These tests will take pictures of the inside of your knee and confirm any damage inside your joint. The most common imaging tests to diagnose a torn meniscus include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Ultrasound.
• X-rays.

Your provider will tell you which imaging tests you’ll need and which injuries they’re looking for.

You might also need a knee arthroscopy to diagnose or repair damage inside your knee. Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that lets your surgeon see inside your knee joint with a tiny camera. Most knee arthroscopies are outpatient procedures, meaning you can go home the same day.

Does the Apley test have any risks?

There are no risks to your knee while having an Apley test performed on it.

You might feel a little pain or discomfort during the test, but even if your meniscus is torn, you shouldn’t feel intense pain.

Studies have found that the Apley test isn’t perfectly accurate at diagnosing a torn meniscus. However, it’s usually only the first step your provider will take to diagnose your injury. Imaging tests will give a more conclusive answer. They’re more accurate ways to evaluate your meniscus if your provider thinks it might be torn.

What type of results will I get and what do they mean?

The Apley test’s results aren’t as direct as some other tests you might have had before. Instead of giving an exact range or a specific number, an Apley test gives your provider a better understanding of what might be injured in your knee.

It’s more like true or false questions and less like a math problem that gives an exact answer. Your provider will classify your test as positive if they find anything that indicates that your meniscus is torn. A negative result means you didn’t experience pain, discomfort or other symptoms during the test.

A negative result doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t need other tests. Your meniscus might still be torn, or there might be other damage inside your knee.

When should I call my doctor?

Visit your provider if you’re experiencing symptoms like pain or swelling that get worse after a few days.

Go to the emergency room right away if you notice any of the following:

• Extreme pain.
• Swelling that’s getting worse.
• Discoloration.
• You can’t move your knee at all or can’t move it like you usually can.