Search

Context:In clinical practice, the range of motion (ROM) of the noninvolved side often serves as the reference for comparison with the injured side. Previous investigations of non–weight-bearing (NWB) ankle dorsiflexion (DF) ROM measurements have indicated bilateral symmetry for the most part. Less is known about ankle DF measured under weight-bearing (WB) conditions. Because WB and NWB ankle DF are not strongly correlated, there is a need to determine whether WB ankle DF is also symmetrical in a healthy population.Objective:To determine whether WB ankle DF is bilaterally symmetrical. A secondary goal was to further explore the correlation between WB and NWB ankle DF ROM.Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting:Training facility of the Israeli Defense Forces.Patients or Other Participants:A total of 64 healthy males (age 19.6 ± 1.0 years, height 175.0 ± 6.4 cm, and body mass 71.4 ± 7.7 kg).Main Outcome Measure(s):Dorsiflexion ROM in WB was measured with an inclinometer and DF ROM in NWB was measured with a universal goniometer. All measurements were taken bilaterally by a single examiner.Results:Weight-bearing ankle DF was greater on the nondominant side compared with the dominant side (P< .001). Non–weight-bearing ankle DF was not different between sides (P .64). The correlation between WB and NWB DF was moderate, with the NWB DF measurement accounting for 30 to 37 of the variance of the WB measurement.Conclusions:Weight-bearing ankle DF ROM should not be assumed to be bilaterally symmetrical. These findings suggest that side-to-side differences in WB DF may need to be interpreted while considering which side is dominant. The difference in bilateral symmetry between the WB and NWB measurements, as well as the only moderate level of correlation between them, suggests that both measurements should be performed routinely.

Context:Lower extremity movement patterns have been implicated as a risk factor for various knee disorders. Ankle-dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) has previously been associated with a faulty movement pattern among healthy female participants.Objective:To determine the association between ankle DF ROM and the quality of lower extremity movement during the lateral step-down test among healthy male participants.Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting:Training facility of the Israel Defense Forces.Patients or Other Participants:Fifty-five healthy male Israeli military recruits (age 19.7 ± 1.1 years, height 175.4 ± 6.4 cm, mass 72.0 ± 7.6 kg).Intervention(s):Dorsiflexion ROM was measured in weight-bearing and non–weight-bearing conditions using a fluid-filled inclinometer and a universal goniometer, respectively. Lower extremity movement pattern was assessed visually using the lateral step-down test and classified categorically as good or moderate. All measurements were performed bilaterally.Main Outcome Measure(s):Weight-bearing and non–weight-bearing DF ROM were more limited among participants with moderate quality of movement than in those with good quality of movement on the dominant side (P .01 and P .02 for weight-bearing and non–weight-bearing DF, respectively). Non–weight-bearing DF demonstrated a trend toward a decreased range among participants with moderate compared with participants with good quality of movement on the nondominant side (P .03 adjusted P .025). Weight-bearing DF was not different between participants with good and moderate movement patterns on the nondominant side (P .10). Weight-bearing and non–weight-bearing ankle DF ROM correlated significantly with the quality of movement on both sides (P< .01 and P< .05 on the dominant and nondominant side, respectively).Conclusions:Ankle DF ROM was associated with quality of movement among healthy male participants. The association seemed weaker in males than in females.