Validation of a Portable Ankle Arthrometer

Overview

The purpose of this study is to assess the validity and reliability of a prototype portable ankle arthrometer in various populations. There are two aims to this study. Aim 1 will look to determine the reliability and validity of a prototype portable ankle arthrometer on young adults with no history of ankle sprain, copers, and young adults with chronic ankle instability. It is hypothesized that the prototype portable ankle arthrometer will be a valid and reliable tool to assess joint laxity across the three different populations. Aim 2 will look to determine the validity of a prototype portable ankle arthrometer in young adults with an acute ankle sprain across multiple timepoints in their first month post injury. It is hypothesized that the prototype portable ankle arthrometer will be a valid tool to assess joint laxity at three different timepoints for the same individual.

Aim 1: Participants will report to the Exercise and Sport Injury laboratory to provide informed consent before any study procedures take place. Following consent, there will be an approximate 1 hour data collection period. There will be 2 different days of data collection, with informed consent being provided only at the first session. Demographics \& Health History: Participants will answer several surveys including a medical history questionnaire, physical activity readiness questionnaire (ParQ), international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ - short form), identification of functional ankle instability (IdFAI), and a foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM). Measures of age, height, weight, sex, and race or ethnicity will be recorded by practitioners prior to testing. Information gathered will be used to ensure all participants fit the study inclusion criteria. Instrumentation will include a prototype portable ankle arthrometer created by Luna Labs to measure joint laxity and a GE Healthcare Ultrasound Machine to also measure joint laxity. Participants will first undergo a series of physical examination tests performed by a Licensed Athletic Trainer. Participants will remain seated on the exam table, and the study team member will perform the "Anterior Drawer Test of the Ankle" and the "Talar Tilt Test" to assess the stability of the participants ankle ligaments. Following the physical exam tests, participants will remain seated on the exam table and will be outfitted with the ankle arthrometer. Once the arthrometer is fitted, participants will have their foot placed in various positions, and the arthrometer will record measures. Following the ankle arthrometer, participants will remain seated on the exam table and the ultrasound imaging unit will be used to assess joint laxity in the same positions that were used for the ankle arthrometer. Following the completion of ultrasound images, participants will be dismissed. Participants will then report back a week later for visit 2. Visit 2 consist of the physical exam tests, ankle arthrometer, and ultrasound imaging again. Following visit 2, participation in the study will be complete. Aim 2: Participants will report to the Exercise and Sport Injury laboratory to provide informed consent before any study procedures take place. Following consent, there will be an approximate 1 hour data collection period. There will be 3 different days of data collection, with informed consent being provided only at the first session. Demographics \& Health History: Participants will answer several surveys including a medical history questionnaire, physical activity readiness questionnaire (ParQ), international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ - short form), and a foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM). Measures of age, height, weight, sex, and race or ethnicity will be recorded by practitioners prior to testing. Information gathered will be used to ensure all participants fit the study inclusion criteria. Instrumentation will include a prototype portable ankle arthrometer created by Luna Labs to measure joint laxity and a GE Healthcare Ultrasound Machine to also measure joint laxity. Participants will first undergo a series of physical examination tests performed by a Licensed Athletic Trainer. Participants will remain seated on the exam table, and the study team member will perform the "Anterior Drawer Test of the Ankle" and the "Talar Tilt Test" to assess the stability of the participants ankle ligaments. Following the physical exam tests, participants will remain seated on the exam table and will be outfitted with the ankle arthrometer. Once the arthrometer is fitted, participants will have their foot placed in various positions, and the arthrometer will record measures. Following the ankle arthrometer, participants will remain seated on the exam table and the ultrasound imaging unit will be used to assess joint laxity in the same positions that were used for the ankle arthrometer. Following the completion of ultrasound images, participants will be dismissed. Participants will then report back 2 weeks later for visit 2. Visit 2 consist of completion of the FAAM, physical exam tests, ankle arthrometer, and ultrasound imaging again. Visit 3 will consist of the same study procedure, however the timepoint will be 4 weeks after visit 1. Following visit 3, participation in the study will be complete.