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Reliability of Ankle Goniometric Measurements

A Literature Review

RobRoy L. Martin, PhD, PT ^* and Thomas G. McPoil, PhD, PT, ATC 

^* Department of Physical Therapy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Program in Physical Therapy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.

Corresponding author: RobRoy L. Martin, PhD, PT, Department of Physical Therapy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave, 111A RSHS, Pittsburgh, PA 15282.

Abstract

This article reviews the existing range-of-motion measurement literature related to ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion to determine whether the reliability of ankle range-of-motion measurements can be defined, how the characteristics of the study population or clinician affect reliability, and the level of responsiveness for these measures. A MEDLINE search was performed through February 2004, and 11 articles met the inclusion criteria established for this review. Ample evidence was found for intrarater reliability for ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion range of motion. Although some evidence for interrater reliability of dorsiflexion was found, little evidence for interrater reliability of plantarflexion range of motion was uncovered. On the basis of the current literature, the responsiveness of ankle joint range-of-motion measurements is uncertain and requires further studies using patient populations. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 95(6): 564–572, 2005)