Navicular Drop Test | Pes Planus & Overpronation Assessment

The Navicular Drop Test is a test to assess for pes planus and overpronation.
An increased navicular drop is associated with an increased risk of overuse injuries such as medial tibial stress syndrome, plantar fasciitis, as well as patellofemoral pain syndrome.The navicular drop is defined as the distance the navicular tuberosity moves in standing as the subtalar joint is allowed to move from a neutral to a relaxed position.

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First, palpate your patient’s navicular tuberosity and mark it with a pen. To perform the test have your patient sitting or standing and bring the talus into neutral position. Then measure the distance from the ground to the tuberosity and mark it on a piece of paper. Now ask your patient to bear weight on the foot and measure the distance from the ground to the tuberosity again and mark it on the same paper.

With this test, we are talking about an excessive navicular drop or over pronation with a difference of at least one centimeter and as you can see Andreas is right at the edge.

21 OF THE MOST USEFUL ORTHOPAEDIC TESTS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

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A common orthopedic test to assess for possible plantar fasciitis is the Windlass Test.

References

Picciano, A. M., Rowlands, M. S., & Worrell, T. (1993). Reliability of open and closed kinetic chain subtalar joint neutral positions and navicular drop test. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 18(4), 553-558.