Windlass Test
Windlass Test
Performance of the test
Non-weight bearing: With the patient sitting, the clinician performs forceful great toe extension while stabilizing the ankle.
Weight bearing: With the patient in a weight bearing position, the clinician performs forceful great toe extension.
Purpose of the test
The Windlass test is designed to detect presence of plantar fasciitis.
Positive test
A positive test is defined as reproduction of pain at the medical calcaneal tubercle.
Diagnostic properties
Non-weight bearing:
Sensitivity: 0.18
Specificity: 0.99
Positive likelihood ratio: 16.21
Negative likelihood ratio: 0.82
Weight bearing:
Sensitivity: 0.33
Specificity: 0.99
Positive Likelihood Ratio: 28.70
Negative Likelihood Ratio: 0.68
References
Brown C. A review of subcalcaneal heel pain and plantar fasciitis. Aust
Fam Physician. 1996;25:875–885.
De Garceau D, Dean D, Requejo SM, Thordarson DB. The association
between diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and Windlass test results. Foot Ankle
Int. 2003;24:251–255.
