title: The association between diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and Windlass test results.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Garceau
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Susan Mais
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Requejo
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Thordarson
mesh_terms: D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006214:Hallux / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016474:Weight-Bearing