Selected measures of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion: differences and intercorrelations

The purpose of this investigation was to describe and compare ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ADROM) measurements obtained using the heel, fifth metatarsal, and plantar surface of foot as distal surface landmarks while the ankle was dorsiflexed under three conditions. The conditions were: 1) passive ankle dorsiflexion with force adequate to encounter notable tension in the plantar flexor muscles, 2) passive ankle dorsiflexion with a maximal force, and 3) as in number 2 but actively assisted by the subject. Thirty-six women had their ankles dorsiflexed three times under each of the three conditions. Slide photographs were taken of the procedure. The photographs were projected and ADROM measured using the three distal landmarks. Analysis of variance demonstrated that ADROM measurements were significantly different (p less than 0.001) under the three conditions of measurement and when the different landmarks were used. The majority (83.3%) of the ADROM measurements were correlated significantly (P less than .01) with one another regardless of the condition or landmark of measurement. Clinicians should be aware that measurements of ADROM will differ depending on the conditions of measurement and the landmarks used. Despite the differences, measurements obtained using various combinations of conditions and landmarks will provide an indication of ADROM.