How to Perform an Anterior Drawer Test of the Ankle

The anterior drawer test is an evaluation performed by doctors to determine if you've damaged the ligaments in your ankle. It's become one of the more popular tests for ankle injuries, mainly because of its accuracy and simplicity. It is also popular because of how gentle it is on the injured patient's joint.

Instructions

• 1

  Instruct the patient to sit upright on a bench or table and to dangle his or her legs over the edge.

• 2

  Draw the patient's foot slightly away from his or her leg. The technical term for this is plantar flexion, with the opposite being dorsiflexion, or when the toes are drawn up toward the lower leg.

• 3

  Brace the front of the patient's shin with your left hand.

• 4

  Cup the back of the patient's heel with your right hand and pull his or her whole foot forward. Avoid pulling too hard or fast, as this makes it difficult to get an accurate result and might be painful for the patient.

• 5

  Check the endpoint of the foot's motion to see if it's firm or soft. If it's soft or gives a little too much the test is positive and the patient likely has a sprained or otherwise injured ankle.