Manual examination is the most common method for the evaluation of ankle anteroposterior (AP) and inversion-eversion (I-E) laxity. Objective assessment data of normal ankle laxity must be provided before comparison with an injured ankle can be made. The purpose of this study was to compare AP translation and I-E rotation at three force loads between dominant and nondominant ankles and to assess the test-retest reliability of a portable arthrometer in obtaining these measurements. The arthrometer consists of a frame that is fixed to the foot, a pad that is attached to the tibia, and a load-measuring handle that is attached to the foot plate through which the load is applied. A six-degrees-of-freedom spatial kinematic linkage system is connected between the tibial pad and the foot frame to measure motion. Instrumented measurement testing of total AP displacement and I-E rotation of both ankles was performed in 41 subjects (21 men and 20 women; mean age, 23.8 +/- 4.4 years). Subjects had no history of ankle injury. Subjects were tested in the supine position while lying on a table with the knee secured in extension and the foot positioned at 0 degrees of flexion. Laxity was measured from total AP displacement (millimeters) during loading to 125 N of AP force and from total I-E rotation (degrees of range of motion) during loading to 4000 N-mm. Reliability was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1) at 75 N, 100 N, and 125 N of AP force and at 2000, 3000, and 4000 N-mm torque loads. Mean differences for displacement and rotation between the dominant and nondominant ankles at each of the force and torque loads were analyzed by dependent t-tests. For both the dominant and nondominant ankles, respectively, the reliability coefficients at each of the force loads for AP displacement (range, 0.82-0.89) and I-E rotation (range, 0.86-0.97) were high. The t-test analyses showed no significant differences (P > or = 0.05) for total AP displacement or I-E rotation between the dominant and nondominant ankles at any of the force loads. The results are clinically useful in providing information about the reliability of measures at different AP and I-E force loads using a portable ankle ligament arthrometer.

The current data indicate that refrigerated osteochondral allografts can be maintained for up to 44 days with average chondrocyte viability of 67%.

Context: Anterior drawer testing of the ankle is commonly used to diagnose lateral ligamentous instability. Our hypothesis was that changing knee and ankle positions would change the stability of the ankle complex during anterior drawer testing.Objectives: To assess the effects of knee and ankle position on anterior drawer laxity and stiffness of the ankle complex.Design: A repeated-measures design with knee and ankle position as independent variables.Setting: University research laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Bilateral ankles of 10 female (age 5 19.8 6 1.1 years) and 10 male (age 5 20.8 6 1.2 years) collegiate athletes were tested.Intervention ( Results: Anterior laxity of the ankle complex was maximal with the knee positioned at 906 of flexion and the ankle at 106 of PF when compared with the knee positioned at 06 of flexion and the ankle at 106 or 06 of PF (P , .001), whereas ankle complex stiffness was greatest with the knee positioned at 06 of flexion and the ankle at 06 of PF (P , .009).Conclusions: Anterior drawer testing of the ankle complex with the knee positioned at 906 of flexion and the ankle at 106 of PF produced the most laxity and the least stiffness. These findings indicate that anterior drawer testing with the knee at 906 of flexion and the ankle at 106 of PF may permit better isolation of the ankle capsuloligamentous structures.Key Words: lateral ankle sprains, physical examination Key PointsN Differences in ankle laxity and stiffness during anterior drawer loading of the ankle complex were found in various knee and ankle positions.N Alterations in the passive tension characteristics acting through the Achilles tendon complex and the ankle capsuloligamentous structures should be considered when assessing ankle ligament laxity.

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The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the Closed Chain Rider System (Mettler Electronics) between exercise sessions and to determine the effects of limb dominance using muscle force and work measures during closed chain leg press exercise. Thirty-nine recreationally active college students underwent identical testing on two occasions, during which each subject performed five reciprocal leg press movements at speeds of 10, 15, and 20 in./s while seated. Average force, total work, and linear range of motion were recorded. Reliability values for average force and work were clinically acceptable for the dominant and nondominant limbs. The dominant limb produced greater average force and total work versus the nondominant limb, and average linear ROM was similar between the dominant and nondominant limbs. Differences in the torque and work values observed suggest that the clinician must be aware of differences between the dominant and nondominant limbs when used for comparative purposes.