Effects of Anteroposterior Talus Mobilization on Range of Motion, Pain, and Functional Capacity in Participants With Subacute and Chronic Ankle Injuries: A Controlled Trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the acute (1 session) and chronic effects (6 sessions) and the follow-up (2 weeks) of anteroposterior articular mobilization of the talus, grade III of Maitland, on the dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), pain, and functional capacity of individuals with subacute and chronic traumatic injuries of the ankle. Methods: Thirty-eight volunteers, men and women, with a mean age of 40.8 years, with subacute and chronic ankle injuries participated. The volunteers were blinded to the study purpose and were allocated into the experimental group (EG) or sham group (SG). Dorsiflexion ROM, pain, and functional capacity were measured using the universal goniometer, visual analog scale, and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, respectively. Measurements were taken on 4 different occasions: (1) baseline, (2) after the first session, (3) after the sixth session, and (4) at follow-up. Articular anteroposterior mobilization of the talus grade III of Maitland was applied to the EG, whereas manual contact was applied to the SG. Three series of 30 seconds each with a 30-second rest interval between the series were conducted. Results: Significant increases in ankle dorsiflexion ROM were observed only for the EG after the first (EG: 9.5 ± 1.1; SG: 7.6 ± 1.1) and sixth (EG: 12.8 ± 1.2; SG: 8.4 ± 1.2) sessions and were maintained at follow-up (EG: 13.2 ± 1.1; SG: 9.3 ± 1.3). Decreases in pain and improvements in functional capacity (FC) were identified for both groups after the first and sixth sessions (Pain, EG: 1.3 ± 0.5; SG: 1.8 ± 0.6 and EG: 0.7 ± 0.3; SG: 0.7 ± 0.3; FC, EG: 64.6 ± 3.5; SG: 67.4 ± 4.4 and EG: 79.9 ± 3.3; SG: 86.2 ± 3.3) and remained at follow-up (Pain, EG: 0.3 ± 0.2; SG: 0.5 ± 0.3; FC, EG: 86.8 ± 2.7; SG: 89.8 ± 3.7). Conclusion: Articular grade III mobilization improved ankle dorsiflexion ROM, when compared with the SG. Changes in pain and functional capacity were similar in both groups.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validity of the Brazilian version of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire.

PURPOSE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) questionnaire and verify the psychometric properties of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of this instrument. METHODS: Analysis of validity was carried out by applying the Rasch model and evaluating correlations with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Physical Function (PF) subscale. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were analyzed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) and Cronbach's alpha tests, respectively. RESULTS: Ninety subjects with various foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders (age 37.05 SD 10.49 years) were included. The ICC2,1 was 0.88 and 0.82 with Cronbach's alphas of 0.93 and 0.90 for the "Activities of Daily Living" (ADL) and "Sports" subscales, respectively. Correlations with the SF-36 PF were 0.78 (p < 0.01, CI95: 0.62-0.87) and 0.65 (p < 0.01, CI95: 0.45-0.79) for the ADL and Sports subscales, respectively. Item reliability indices in Rasch analysis were 0.91 (ADL) and 0.84 (Sports). Three items from the ADL subscale (14.2%) did not match the expectations of the model. All items from the Sports subscale fit the model. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence of validity and reliability of the FAAM-Brazil. Rasch analysis indicated that three items of the ADL subscale did not fit the model in the sample studied. Implications for Rehabilitation Self-report questionnaires are commonly used in both clinical practice and research because of their ability to efficiently collect information. If the instrument is created properly, the information collected can be used to interpret the effect of clinical conditions on physical function. The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) is an evaluative instrument that assesses functional limitations for those with foot- and ankle-related disorders. It was translated into four languages and has evidence of validity, reliability, and responsiveness. Evidence of validity and reliability is provided for the FAAM-Brazil when applied to subjects with a wide range of foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders.

Instrumentos clínicos de avaliação funcional do tornozelo: revisão sistemática / Clinical measurement tools for ankle functional assessment: a systematic review

A entorse lateral do tornozelo é umas das lesões mais comuns em atletas e adultos fisicamente ativos. A utilização de instrumentos de avaliação confiáveis e válidos é fundamental na determinação da intervenção terapêutica adequada e, portanto, do sucesso do tratamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi fazer um levantamento crítico, por meio de uma análise sistemática da literatura, dos instrumentos de medida adequados (questionários e escalas funcionais) disponíveis para a avaliação dos indivíduos que sofreram entorse lateral do tornozelo. Após busca nos bancos de dados Medline e Scielo foram incluídos 11 questionários para avaliação funcional do tornozelo. A escala funcional de extremidade inferior LEFS (Lower extremity functional scale) e a medida funcional de pé e tornozelo FAAM (Foot and ankle ability measure) foram as que apresentaram melhor qualidade metodológica, além de mais informações sobre suas propriedades de medida e suas aplicações práticas – mas não foram traduzidas para o português. Foram encontrados dois questionários traduzidos e adaptados para a população brasileira, o instrumento de instabilidade de tornozelo CAIT (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool) e a escala de tornozelo e retropé AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society – ankle-hindfoot scale). A AOFAS apresentou uma análise mais completa de suas propriedades, sendo portanto o instrumento mais recomendado para avaliação funcional do complexo pé-tornozelo atualmente no Brasil...

Lateral ankle sprain is the most common injury among athletes and physically active adults. The adoption of valid and reliable clinical assessment instruments is basic for determining the most adequate therapeutic intervention, hence to achieve better rehabilitation. This is a systematic literature review to search for available and reliable outcome measures (questionnaires and functional scales) in the assessment of individuals who suffered lateral ankle sprain. After a search in Medline and Scielo databases a total of 11 instruments were selected and critically analysed. The Lower Extremity Functional Scale and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure showed the best methodological properties and provided more information concerning measurement features and clinical application (but have not been translated into Portuguese). Two instruments were found that were translated and culturally adapted for the Brazilian people, the CAIT (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool) and the AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society – ankle-hindfoot scale). The AOFAS was found to present a more thorough analysis of its properties and applicability, being thus suggested to be used for functional assessment of ankle and hindfoot in Brazil...