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Moses' sign
System: Blood & Lymph Signs · All blood & lymph signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Squeezing the calf muscles from front to back causes pain, whereas squeezing them side to side does not.
What a positive finding suggests
Traditionally associated with deep vein thrombosis of the calf; like other calf signs, it is unreliable on its own.
◈ Behind the name
Moses, German surgeon, who described the sign in the 1940s.
Related signs — Blood & Lymph Signs
Browse the M section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.