DIFFERENCES IN ANKLE JOINT COMPLEX RANGE OF MOTION AS A FUNCTION OF AGE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gender- and age-rel ated differences in ankle joint complex (AJC) range of motion (ROM) ex ist in children (range 913 years), adolescents (14-16 years), and youn g adults (17-20 years), and to compare these data with those published for older subjects (21-79 years) using the same protocol.15 A total o f 120 subjects (58 males and 62 females) ranging in age from 9 to 20 y ears were tested for AJC ROM using a specifically designed 6-degrees o f freedom fixture.1 All measurements were made with respect to a labor atory coordinate system, and represented assessment of active AJC ROM. Angular displacements for plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, ev ersion, abduction, and adduction were digitally recorded and compared. AJC ROMs of females aged 9 to 20 years were generally greater than th ose for males about all three orthogonal axes. Within each gender, the re was a consistent trend for AJC ROM to decrease from a maximum at 14 to 16 or 17 to 20 years to a minimum after age 60 years. The average decrement was greater for females than for males. This study provided evidence to support the contention that age-related and gender differe nces in AJC ROM do exist. The possibility of minimizing the decline in AJC ROM with age requires further investigation.