Patellar tap

X-ray of a kneecap showing a different shaded area just beneath the kneecap

Skyline view of the patella demonstrating a large joint effusion as marked by the arrow

The patellar tap is a technique used in an examination of the knee to test for knee effusion or "water-on-the-knee".^[1]

With the examinee lying on their back, the examiner extends the knee and presses the area above the kneecap with the palm of one hand. This pushes fluid under the kneecap and lifts it. While keeping the pressure on with the first hand, the examiner uses the fingers of their other hand to press down on the kneecap. If a knee effusion is present, the kneecap will move down and "tap" the bone beneath.^[1]

References

1 2 "Knee Assessment". Patient. Retrieved 26 April 2016.

Orthopedic examination

General

Leg

Hip examination	Galeazzi test Allis test Barlow maneuver Ober's test Ortolani test Patrick's test Thomas test Trendelenburg's sign

Knee examination	Apley grind test Ballottement Clarke's test Drawer test Lachman test McMurray test Patellar tap Pivot-shift test Wilson test Valgus stress test

Foot & Ankle	Hubscher's maneuver Mulder's sign Simmonds' test Thompson test

Arm

Shoulder examination	Apprehension test Jobe's test Gerber's test Hawkins–Kennedy test Neer impingement sign O'Brien's test Speed's test Yergason's test

Elbow examination	Cozen's test Elbow extension test

Wrist & Hand	Durkan's test Finkelstein's test Froment's sign Lunotriquetral shear test Phalen maneuver Tinel sign Watson's test

Spine

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