Foot & Ankle Assessment

Question 1

What two joints are involved when assessing the foot/ankle?

Answer 1

Talocrural and subtalar joints

Question 2

What types of joint are the two found in the ankle?

Answer 2

Talocrural - hinge joint

Subtalar - gliding joint

Question 3

What movements occur at the talocrural joint?

Answer 3

Plantar flexion and dorsiflexion

Question 4

What movements occurs at the subtalar joint?

Answer 4

supination, pronation, inversion, and eversion

Question 5

When assessing an ankle injury, what other area(s) should be ruled out first? How would you perform the rule out(s)?

Answer 5

Knee - AF flexion and extension, apply overpressure at end range IF movement is pain free

Superior tibiofibular joint - if movement is painful passively glide the joint anteriorly and posteriorly with client in hook lying position. If pain free ankle movement can occur, actively or passively dorsiflex and plantar flex the talocrural joint.

Metatarsophalangeal joints - AF flexion and extension of toes, apply overpressure if pain free

Question 6

What nerve roots are associated with each of the movements of the ankle joint?

Answer 6

Dorsiflexion - L4
Inversion - L4
Eversion - S1
Plantarflexion - S1 and S2

Question 7

What 3 ligaments are being tested with the three taller tilts?

Answer 7

Anterior Talofibular ligament (ATFL)
Calcanueofibular ligament (CFL)
Deltoid ligament (DL)

Question 8

What is the most commonly injured ligament in the ankle?

Answer 8

ATFL

Question 9

What positions would you passively move the clients ankle into to test each of the talar tilt tests?

Answer 9

ATFL - plantar flexion and inversion
CFL - neutral and inversion
DL - neutral with eversion (all fibres), plantar flexion with eversion (anterior fibres), dorsiflexion with eversion (posterior fibres)

Question 10

Apart from the three talar tilts, what is another test you could perform if you suspected injury of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)?

Answer 10

Anterior Drawer test

Question 11

When performing a wedge test, what are you testing?

Answer 11

Integrity of the inferior tibiofibular ligament

Question 12

Why would you perform a Thompson test, and what would a positive sign be?

Answer 12

Tests for achilles tendon rupture. Positive sign would be absence of plantar flexion after squeezing the calf muscles.

Question 13

Among the special tests that could be performed on the foot/ankle which positive sign would be considered a medical emergency and therefore a contraindication to any treatment?

Answer 13

Homan’s sign

Question 14

What is the purpose of the Squeeze test?

Answer 14

Tests for the presence of mortons neuroma