The Reliability And Criterion Validity Of A Novel Dorsiflexion Range Of Motion Screen: 2424 Board #260 June 1 9 30 AM - 11 00 AM

PURPOSE: Limited ankle dorsiflexion (DF) is associated with abnormal biomechanics as well as lower extremity injuries. Identifying and correcting restricted ankle DF may be a viable preventative strategy to normalize motor control and reduce injury. A reliable ankle screen may help clinicians to identify decreased ankle range of motion (ROM). The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and criterion validity of a novel standing ankle dorsiflexion screen (SADS). It is proposed that the SADS will demonstrate strong inter-rater reliability and criterion validity. METHODS: 37 healthy subjects (74 ankles) participated in the study. Ankle DF ROM was measured using an electronic inclinometer by 2 raters. Four raters measured ankle DF using the criteria of the SADS. The SADS is performed in a heel-to-toe position. Subjects performed DF by dropping their back knee forward as far as possible without lifting their back heel. The back-ankle DF is scored by identifying the position of the anterior knee in relation to the medial malleolus of the front limb. It scored as either beyond the front of the malleolus (pass), or behind the front of the malleolus (fail). Measurements were obtained by four raters, two times per ankle, with 5 minutes of rest between measurements to prevent a treatment effect. Reliability was calculated using an ICC between the 2 raters using the electronic inclinometer and using a Kappa coefficient between the 4 pairs of raters for the SADS. RESULTS: The ICC values from the electronic inclinometer were reported as mean values for the 3 trials at 0.95 (0.92-0.97). The Kappa values were calculated for a single trial for SADS and ranged from 0.61-0.81 with percent agreement ranging from 86%-94%. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) in ankle DF ROM between the behind category (mean DF = 41.3° SD 4.7°) and the beyond category (mean value was 51.8° SD 6.1°). CONCLUSIONS: This novel ankle screen can be considered reliable for screening ankle DF ROM. Criterion validity, as compared to a standard goniometric measure, can also be considered meaningful. The screen may provide clinicians an effective tool to screen for ankle DF ROM deficits.