Clinical Tests of Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy: Are They Reliable, and How Well Are They Reflected in Structural Changes on Imaging?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the reliability of common clinical tests for tibialis posterior tendinopathy (TPT) and to investigate their relationship with grayscale ultrasound findings in individuals who have medial foot/ankle pain.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort.

METHODS

Fifty-two individuals reporting medial foot/ankle pain were clinically examined by 2 physical therapists using 4 clinical tests for TPT: pain on tendon palpation, swelling around the tendon, pain/weakness with tibialis posterior contraction, and pain during or inability to perform a single-leg heel raise (SLHR). Individuals also underwent an ultrasound examination by a sonographer. Physical therapists and the sonographer were blind to each other's findings. Positive ultrasound examination included at least 1 of the following grayscale changes: hypoechogenicity, fibrillar disruption, or thickening of the tendon. For reliability between the 2 physical therapists, we calculated kappa coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). To assess relationships between clinical and imaging findings, we calculated odds ratios and 95% CIs.

RESULTS

The SLHR was the most reliable test, with substantial agreement between physical therapists (κ = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.93), while the other tests had moderate levels of reliability. Of all clinical tests, the SLHR was most related to grayscale findings on ultrasound (odds ratio = 5.8), but was imprecisely so, with a 95% CI of 1.7 to 20.4.

CONCLUSION

Of all tests, the SLHR was the most reliable between clinicians and best related to imaging findings in individuals presenting with TPT, aligning with contemporary thinking of tendinopathy as a load-related clinical presentation. There was a disconnect between clinical findings and ultrasound grayscale changes in the tibialis posterior tendon in individuals with TPT. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(5):253-260. Epub 28 Mar 2021. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.9707.