Let's learn exactly about the Thessaly Test for knee pain! (Thessaly Test)

Have you ever twisted your knee while playing cricket or netball? Or have you slipped and fallen at home and hurt your knee so badly that you have difficulty bending and straightening it? At times like these, you may experience pain, swelling, and a feeling of tightness in your knee. When you go to a doctor at a time like this, he or she will perform a simple test called the Thessaly test to find out exactly what is wrong with your knee. Let's talk about this in detail today.

Simply put, what is this Thessaly Test?

The Thessaly test is a very simple physical test that doctors use to check for a tear or rupture in the meniscus, a piece of cartilage in your knee. It can be done in your doctor's office (an in-office physical exam). It doesn't require any fancy machines or special equipment.

In this test, you are asked to stand on one leg, bend your knee slightly, and twist your body from side to side. The doctor holds you to prevent you from falling. The doctor carefully checks to see if your knee hurts, feels stiff, or makes a 'click' sound as you twist.

Usually, when you see a doctor with knee pain, the Thessaly test is done as a preliminary test. However, this alone does not complete the diagnosis. You will often need to have something like an ``X-ray`` or ``MRI`` scan to confirm the idea.

When do I need to take this test?

This test is performed if your doctor suspects that you have a torn meniscus in your knee. This condition, called a meniscus tear, is very common, especially among athletes.

Now you may be wondering what this meniscus is . Think of our knee joint. On top of it is the thigh bone `(femur)`, and underneath is the shin bone `(tibia)`. To prevent these two bones from colliding, that is, like a `shock absorber` in a car, we call the meniscus a piece of rubber-like cartilage that is located in the middle between these two bones. Its main function is to absorb the shock generated when we run, jump, and walk and protect the joint.

If the knee suddenly twists quickly, falls, or is subjected to excessive pressure, such as during sports, this meniscus can tear or rupture.

If you have these symptoms, your doctor will perform a Thessaly test. This can give you an idea of ​​whether there is damage not only to the meniscus, but also to the ligaments or other tissues in the knee.

How exactly do you do this test?

This test is very simple. Here are the steps to perform it. Imagine you are in front of the doctor.

1. How to stand: First, you will be asked to stand on one leg. You should keep the other leg slightly raised.

2. Doctor's support: You have nothing to fear. The doctor will hold your hands or waist to support you so that you don't fall.

3. Knee Bending: Next, you will be asked to bend the knee of your standing leg slightly. The test is performed by bending it slightly, about 5 degrees. Then, the test is performed again by bending it slightly, about 20 degrees.

4. Body rotation: Now is the most important part. While the doctor is holding you, he will tell you to rotate your standing leg in and out about three times. That is, slowly rotate your hips from side to side.

When doing this, the doctor will ask you questions like, "Does it hurt?", "Does it feel like it's stuck?", "Did you hear a popping sound?" . He will also touch your knee to see if you feel anything unusual or make a sound. It's very important to say exactly what you're feeling.

Usually, before examining the injured leg, this test is also performed on the uninjured leg . This is to help you get used to the test and to give the doctor an idea of ​​how your healthy knee moves.

What is the difference between the Thessaly Test and the McMurray Test?

Another popular test performed when a meniscus tear in the knee is suspected is the McMurray test. Although the purpose of both is the same, there are slight differences in the way they are performed.

Regardless of which of these two tests is performed, the goal is to find the cause of your knee pain. So be sure to tell your doctor about any discomfort or pain you feel.

What happens after the test?

The Thessaly test is only the first step in the treatment process. Depending on the results, your doctor will often recommend several scans to get a clearer look at the inside of your knee.

These can accurately assess the damage to the bones, cartilage, and ligaments of the knee. The most commonly performed tests are:

• X-rays: Check for bone damage.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This is the best way to see damage to soft tissues like the meniscus and ligaments.
• Ultrasound scan: This is also used in some cases.

Sometimes, a knee arthroscopy may be needed to diagnose the condition or repair damaged parts. This involves making a very small incision in the knee and inserting a camera through it. This is usually not a major surgery and is an outpatient procedure where you can go home the same day.

Is there a risk with this? And what do the results say?

There are no major risks involved in having the Thessaly test. You may feel some pain or discomfort during the test, but even if the meniscus is torn, it should not be unbearable.

The results of this test don't come in a number like the answer to a math problem. Instead, it gives something like a 'yes' or 'no' answer.

• Positive (+): If you experience pain, stiffness, or a popping sound during the test, it is a 'positive' result. This means that there is a high chance that your meniscus is damaged.
• Negative (-): If you do not feel any discomfort or pain, it is a 'negative' result.

But remember, some studies have shown that while the Thessaly test is more accurate than other tests, it is not 100% perfect. This means that even if the result is negative, there may still be another problem in the knee, or a small tear in the meniscus . That is why an MRI scan is almost always done after this.

When should I see a doctor as soon as possible?

If your knee pain or swelling doesn't go away after a few days and is getting worse, definitely see your doctor .

However, if you have any of the following symptoms, go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately:

• If there is unbearable pain .
• If the swelling is increasing rapidly .
• If there is a color change, such as the knee turning blue or purple .
• If you can't move your knee at all , or if you can't bend and extend it as you normally would.

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