Goniometry: Ankle (Talocrural) Dorsiflexion

Original Editor - Claire KnottAlly Top Contributors - Nupur Smit Shah, Vidya Acharya, Claire Knott, Chioma Clara Okeakpu, Alexandra Stead, Naomi O'Reilly and Tolulope Adeniji

Introduction

Goniometry is a useful measurement technique often used amongst professionals to assess a patients range of movement at a particular joint. Ankle dorsiflexion measurement is essential for clinical and research purposes. Most closed-chain activities like walking, running, squatting or jumping, require normal flexibility of the ankle joint.

Anatomical Movement

Ankle (talocrural joint) dorsiflexion.

Axis and Planes of Motion

The Talocrural joint is a hinge joint, resulting in it having one degrees of freedom, providing plantarflexion and dorsiflexion movements. These movements occur in the sagittal plane, with a frontal axis.

Testing position (non weight bearing)

Patient is in prone or supine with test-side knee in slight flexion to remove any limitation caused by the gastrocnemius. This test can also be performed in sitting.

Therapist to stabilise the leg and asks the patient to perform movement from a plantigrade position.

Goniometer Placement

AXIS LOCATION	STATIONARY ARM	MOVEMENT ARM
Lateral calcaneus at bisection of fibula and 5th metatarsal	Paralell to fibula	Parallel with 5th metatarsal

Testing Position (weight bearing position)

Dorsiflexion is measured in weight bearing position by knee to wall test, using a measuring tape.

Expected Findings

Expected range of motion with knee extension is 10 degrees. With knee flexion, expected range of motion is 20 degrees.