The Association between Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis and Windlass Test Results

• Published in: Foot & ankle international 2003-03, Vol.24 (3), p.251-255
• Main Authors: De Garceau, Denise, Dean, Danielle, Requejo, Susan Mais, Thordarson, David B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fasciitis, Plantar - diagnosis; Fasciitis, Plantar - physiopathology; Female; Foot; Hallux - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedics - methods; Orthopedics - standards; Pain - diagnosis; Pain - physiopathology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Weight-Bearing
• ISSN: 1071-1007; 1944-7876
• DOI: 10.1177/107110070302400309

Twenty-two patients with plantar fasciitis, 23 patients with other types of foot pain, and 30 patients in a control group were evaluated with the Windlass test performed in a weightbearing and non-weightbearing position. In the non-weightbearing test, the first MP joint was maximally dorsiflexed with the ankle stabilized. The weightbearing test was performed with the toes hanging off the edge of a stool and dorsiflexion of the first MP was performed. Seven of the 22 patients in the plantar fasciitis group had a positive weightbearing Windlass test (31.8%), while only three had a positive test result in a non-weightbearing position (13.6%). None of the patients in the other foot pain group or control group had pain in the weightbearing and non-weightbearing positions. Despite its high rate of specificity, the low rate of sensitivity of the Windlass test may limit its usefulness in the clinical evaluation in patients with plantar fasciitis.