Execution
- 1Position the patient sitting and identify the navicular tuberosity.
- 2Place the subtalar joint in neutral and marks or measures navicular height from the floor.
- 3Ask the patient to stand relaxed with equal weight bearing.
- 4Remeasure the height of the navicular tuberosity in relaxed standing.
- 5Calculate the drop between subtalar-neutral sitting and relaxed standing.
Positive outcome
Excessive navicular drop, commonly greater than 10 mm, suggests increased midfoot mobility or excessive pronation. A low drop does not exclude dynamic pronation during gait or sport. Pain during the test should be documented separately from mobility magnitude.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brody (1982) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Mueller et al. (1993) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Rathleff et al. (2012) | static-to-dynamic validity questioned | NA | NA | NA | NA |
CommentMagee includes navicular drop as a foot-posture and mobility measure rather than a diagnosis. Brody introduced the test for pronation estimation, but later work questions how well static navicular drop predicts dynamic foot motion. Use it as one part of a foot posture and load-transfer assessment.
Low Clinical Value