A Performance Test Protocol and Scoring Scale for the Evaluation of An kle Injuries

Abstract

The aim of the study was to introduce and evaluate a standardized test protocol and scoring scale for evaluation of ankle injuries. After evaluation of 11 different functional ankle tests, questionnaire answers, and results of clinical ankle examination, the final test protocol consisted of 3 simple questions describing the subjective assessment of the injured ankle, 2 clinical measurements (range of motion in dorsiflexion, laxity of the ankle joint), 1 ankle test measuring functional stability (walking down a staircase), 2 tests measuring muscle strength (rising on heels and toes), and 1 test measuring balance (balancing on a square beam). Each selected test showed excellent reproducibility when tested with a reference group of 100 uninjured persons. According to the test results of a population of 148 patients with an operatively treated grade III lateral ligament injury of the ankle, each test could significantly differentiate healthy controls and patients with excellent overall healing from those with poor or fair recovery. The final total test score correlated significantly with the isokinetic strength results of the ankle, subjective opinion about the recovery, and subjective-functional assessment. The scale presented is recommended for studies evaluating functional recovery after ankle injury.

The distal fascicle of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament as a cause of anterolateral ankle impingement: Results of arthroscopic resection

“…Pain with forced dorsiflexion was noted in 14 patients. Subjective evaluations and scoring of the patients were done by the method of Kaikkonen et al (1994).…”

National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Conservative Management and Prevention of Ankle Sprains in Athletes

“…These include the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, Lower Extremity Function Test (LEFS), Sports Ankle Rating System, Olerud Scoring Scale, and Karlsson Ankle Function Score. The Composite Inversion Injury Scale 110 and Kaikkonen Functional Scale 75,130 can also be used to evaluate patients with ankle sprains; however, they rely on clinician reports rather than patient self-reports of ankle function. Therefore, for the purpose of this paper, they were not included.…”

“…Tests can progress from relatively simple tasks such as single-legged balance, 130,147,148 1-legged heel or toe raises, 130,148 or the Star Excursion Balance Test. [149][150][151] All can be done without advanced laboratory or clinical equipment.…”

“…The single-legged balance test measures the amount of time in balance and can be performed with the eyes open or closed. 130,147,148 A more objective approach can be taken by incorporating the Balance Error Scoring System, which uses error measures that allow the clinician to quantify the athlete's postural stability. Although most of the research on the Balance Error Scoring System has been related to mild head injuries, 1 group 152 identified balance deficits in participants with FAI.…”

Iontophoresis with or without dexamethazone in the treatment of acute Achilles tendon pain

“…A performance test protocol and scoring scale for the evaluation of ankle injuries by Kaikkonen and co-workers (1994) has been used in a follow-up study of patients with Achilles tendinopathy (Kaikkonen et al, 1994, Paavola et al, 2000a, Paavola et al, 2002b. It includes both objective and subjective measurements and has been shown to have good reliability in healthy individuals and to be able to distinguish patients with ankle ligament injury from healthy individuals.…”