TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY OF ANKLE INJURY RISK-FACTORS

Ligamentous instability, ankle muscle weakness, foot-ankle alignment, and generalized joint laxity may be predisposing factors for ankle lig ament injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliabili ty of these risk factors before and after the season in healthy indivi duals and to determine if any significant differences developed during the athletic season (range, 12 to 16 weeks). Twenty-one healthy colle ge-aged athletes were tested for generalized joint laxity, anatomic al ignment of the foot and ankle, ligamentous stability, and isokinetic s trength of the ankle muscles, This study showed that generalized joint laxity, ankle ligamentous stability, and ankle strength measurements demonstrated high correlation coefficients (r > 0.75). The high correl ation coefficients suggested reliable measures. Some of the range of m otion measurements had lower correlation coefficients, which suggested more variability in these measurements. After establishing the reliab ility in 24 of the 28 measurements with standardized methods, further work is underway to evaluate the role of these factors in inversion an kle sprains.