Figure – Eight ankle measurement test:
- This measurement test is used by the clinic to check the swelling of the ankle joint.
- This measurement test is applied by to therapist or doctor when the patient complains of ankle pain and the presence of swellings.
- These ankle swellings are first check-in observation part of the assessment then palpate the swelling in the palpation part of the assessment to check the difference between the swellings & edema.
- After that, this measurement test is applied to the examination part of the assessment.
Purpose of the Figure – Eight ankle measurement test :
- This measurement test is used to check the swelling of the ankle joint.
- This swelling is present when occurs any injury of the ankle, sprain of the ligaments of the ankle joint.
How do you perform the Figure – Eight ankle measurement test?
- The patient position for the measurement is a long sitting position.
- With this position the ankle & lower leg beyond the end of the examining table with the ankle in plantigrade[90′].
- Rohner-Spengler, et al. recommend placing the ankle in 20′ plantar flexion called the figure – of – eight – 20.
- Using a 6 mm [ 1/4 inches ] wide plastic tape measure, the examiner places the end of the tape measure on the tibialis anterior tendon, drawing the tape medially across the instep just distal to the navicular tuberosity.
- The tape is then pulled across the arch of the foot just proximal to the base of the fifth metatarsal, across the tibialis anterior tendon,& then around the ankle joint just distal to the tip of the medial malleolus, across the Achilles tendon,& just distal to the lateral malleolus, returning to the starting position.
- The measurement is repeated three times & an average was taken.
- This measurement is applied both side and do the comparison of the result.
Result of the Figure – Eight ankle measurement test:
- When both side result is different, it is indicated to swelling is present on the affected side of the ankle.
- The affected side result is mostly more than to the unaffected side.
- After that applied this test 3 times & take the average of the result.
