A new device for assessing ankle dorsiflexion motion: reliability and validity.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Clinical Measurement
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Limited ankle dorsiflexion is linked to foot pain in various patient groups.
• Accurate assessment of ankle dorsiflexion is crucial in foot and ankle examinations.
• Traditional goniometric methods show poor intertester reliability, necessitating improved measurement tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Iowa ankle range of motion (IAROM) device.
• To assess the IAROM device's capability in measuring ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) and stiffness.
• To establish the clinical utility of a novel, cost-effective device for ankle assessment.

Main Methods:

• The IAROM device's validity and intertester reliability were tested using applied dorsiflexion torque (10-25 Nm).
• Ankle dorsiflexion ROM and stiffness were measured with the knee extended and flexed.
• Convergent validity was assessed against an optoelectronic system, and intertester reliability was evaluated by two clinicians.

Main Results:

• The IAROM device demonstrated excellent validity for ankle dorsiflexion ROM (ICC: 0.95–0.98).
• Good to excellent intertester reliability was observed for ROM measurements (ICC: 0.90–0.95).
• Reliability for ankle joint dorsiflexion stiffness measurement was good (ICC: 0.71–0.85).

Conclusions:

• The IAROM device is a valid and reliable tool for measuring ankle dorsiflexion ROM.
• The device enables stiffness calculation, though its reliability for stiffness measurement is not optimal.
• The IAROM device offers a practical solution for clinical ankle dorsiflexion assessment.