What does a positive result in the Heel Height Test indicate?

A positive result in the Heel Height Test indicates a knee flexion contracture. This test is designed to assess the range of motion in the knee and helps determine if there is a restriction in knee extension. When a patient demonstrates a positive result, it suggests that the individual is unable to fully extend their knee when positioned supine, leading to an observable difference in heel height between the affected leg and the uninvolved leg.

The key aspect of this result is the identification of a knee flexion contracture, where the knee remains partially flexed instead of extending to the neutral alignment. This condition can arise from various causes, including soft tissue shortening, joint surface changes, or neurological conditions. The Heel Height Test serves as a functional assessment tool to reveal limitations in knee extension that are characteristic of a flexion contracture, thus confirming the presence of this specific joint issue.

Other options, while they may relate to joint or muscle issues, do not accurately describe the implications of a positive Heel Height Test. For instance, knee hyperextension would not reflect the inability to achieve full extension; joint arthrofibrosis typically presents with a pattern of stiffness and loss of motion without a specific measurement like heel height, and excessive joint laxity relates to instability rather than