Ankle Oedema

Question 1

what does the figure of 8 test do?

Answer 1

tests for ankle oedema and swelling

Question 2

what type of data does the figure of 8 test yield?

Answer 2

numeric ratio data

Question 3

what are the pros and cons of the figure of 8 test?

Answer 3

pros - non-invasive, can compare side to side and between sessions.
Cons - variance between palpation of bony points, poor interrater reliability, may be too swollen to palpate bony points

Question 4

what should the patient position be?

Answer 4

long lying with foot off edge of bed - shoe and sock off

Question 5

how to explain to the patient what you are going to do?

Answer 5

measure around your uninjured ankle first then around your injured ankle to see the swelling

Question 6

what are the sequence of bony landmarks to measure for the figure of 8 test?

Answer 6

Place 0 on mid point of tibilalis anterior tendon and lateral malleolus –> MEDIAL –> navicular tuberosity –> under mid foot –> LATERALLY –> just proximal to base of 5th metatarsal –> SUPERIORLY and MEDIALLY –> tip of medial malleolus –> back around behind achilles to lateral malleolus

Question 7

what unit should the figure of 8 test be taken in? how many times?

Answer 7

mm and 2 times

good side once

Question 8

which bony landmarks should be marked with pen?

Answer 8

tuberosity of navicular
base of 5th metatarsal
tip of medial malleolus
tip of lateral malleolus
tibialis anterior

Question 9

what position should the patient be in?

Answer 9

long sitting with pillow under knees - ankle in neutral