Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a weight-bearing lunge measure of ankle dorsiflexion

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of a weight-bearing dorsiflexion (DF) lunge in 13 healthy subjects. Four raters with varying clinical experience tested all subjects in random order. Two of the raters repeated the measurements one week later. Two methods were used to assess the DF lunge: (i) the distance from the great toe to the wall and (ii) the angle between the tibial shaft and the vertical using an inclinometer. The average of three trials was used in data analysis. Intra-rater intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranged from 0.97 to 0.98. Inter-rater ICC values were 0.97 (angle) and 0.99 (distance). Results indicate excellent reliability for both methods of assessing a DF lunge.