Week 12

Leg & Foot I


Base & Apex = Base & Apex of Patella
Red PT = Patellar Tendon
TT= Tibial Tuberosity

LCL = Lateral Collateral Ligament
JL= Joint line
LM = Lateral Meniscus
FH = Fibular Head

MM = Medial Meniscus
JL = joint line
PA = Pes Anserinus
MCL = Medial Collateral Ligament

Red AT = Achilles Tendon

Blue solid line = Grastrocnemius
Blue dotted line = Soleus (deep to gastrocnemius)

Another image of Gastrocnemius, Soleus and the Achilles Tendon

PF = Popliteal fossa
PP = Popliteal Pulse

Patient Case

Paul is a 65 year old golfer. He is fit and has always been an

active individual. Recently he stepped out of his golf cart and missed the path a bit. He got a pain in his right knee. He now is getting the pain during his tee-shots (his most powerful swing) and also notices it when he moves around in his small kitchen (pivots and twists a lot). He puts his hand over the front of his knee when he describes the pain to you. What structures of his knee should be included in your palpation assessment? Why would you include them?

I would palpate his MCL, LCL, Joint line, Lateral and Medial Meniscus. I would include all of these structures in my palpation because I would want to see how involved his knee pain was, but the hand over the front of the knee to describe the pain, and the twisting motion that is causing the pain both suggest a meniscal tear. I would then would do all of the tests (that we will learn soon!) to see if he tests positive for a meniscal tear!