BACKGROUND: Range of motion (ROM) measurements are an important parameter for physiotherapeutic assessment and follow-up. Consequently, the reliability of such measurements and the instruments utilized must be evaluated. OBJETIVE: To evaluate the intrarater and interrater reliability of active ROM measurements for ankle dorsiflexion using a goniometer and the more functional method of closed kinetic chains (CKC). METHOD: Two examiners measured both ankles of 22 healthy subjects, on two test days. The active ROM for dorsiflexion was first measured with the subject in the prone position using a universal goniometer and subsequently with the subject in the orthostatic position, with the foot to be tested in dorsiflexion on a measuring tape. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to analyze the reliability of the measurements, and Student's t test for paired and independent samples was used to investigate differences between the means for the two test days and between the two examiners, respectively. RESULTS: The ICC showed low to moderate intrarater reliability (ICC: 0.32-0.72) and moderate interrater reliability (ICC: 0.57-0.66) for the goniometer measurements. For the CKC measurements, both intrarater reliability and interrater reliability were high: intrarater ICC of 0.93 and 0.96 for the right and left ankles, respectively; interrater ICC of 0.98 and 0.99 for the right and left ankles, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the reliability of the CKC evaluation was greater than the reliability of the universal goniometer. This shows that CKC is a reliable method for clinical application involving the same or different examiners.
Range of motion; goniometry; ankle; functional test
