Reliability of Ankle-Foot Morphology, Mobility, Strength, and Motor Performance Measures

BACKGROUND: Assessment of foot posture, morphology, intersegmental mobility, strength and motor control of the ankle-foot complex are commonly used clinically, but measurement properties of many assessments are unclear. PURPOSE: To determine test-retest and inter-rater reliability, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change of morphology, joint excursion and play, strength, and motor control of the ankle-foot complex. DESIGN: Reliability study. METHODS: ). RESULTS: .02-.56. CONCLUSION: Measures of ankle-foot posture, morphology, joint excursion, and strength demonstrated fair to excellent test-retest and inter-rater reliability. Test-retest reliability for rating of perceived difficulty and motor performance was good to excellent for short-foot, toe-spread-out, and hallux exercises and poor to fair for lesser toe extension. Joint play measures had poor to fair reliability overall. The findings of this study should be considered when choosing methods of clinical assessment and outcome measures in practice and research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.