J Sport Rehabil. 2022 Feb 8;31(5):529-535. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2021-0192. Print 2022 Jul 1.
Strengthening of ankle plantar flexor muscles is one of the important components in the rehabilitation of many lower limb injuries and disorders. However, there are few simple methods to evaluate ankle plantar flexor strength in clinical situations without using equipment. The purpose of this study was to verify the intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability and the concurrent validity of a novel ankle isometric plantar flexion (PF) strength test (PF break test [PFBT]).
Case-control study.
The intraexaminer and interexaminer reliabilities of the PFBT were evaluated in 57 orthopedic patients and 30 healthy adults. The range of motion of the ankle joint and the number of heel raises were compared between positive and negative PFBT cases. Then, isometric ankle PF torque (ankle PF of 0°, 15°, and 30°) was compared in knee extension and in the 50° flexion position between positive and negative PFBT cases in 30 healthy adults.
The intraexaminer reliability (κ) of the PFBT was .81 to .94, and the interexaminer reliability (κ) was .37 to .74. The PFBT positive group had a significantly smaller range of motion in the ankle joint (P < .05) and a significantly lower number of heel raises (P < .001) than the PFBT negative group in orthopedic patients, but no significant differences in healthy adults. The PFBT positive group had less ankle PF torque than the PFBT negative group at all ankle PF angles (P < .01). The isometric PF torque in the end range of ankle PF in knee extension could predict the results of the PFBT and correctly classified 90.0% of cases (P < .001).
The PFBT is considered a simple and valid method to evaluate isometric ankle PF strength in the clinical setting.
加强踝关节跖屈肌是许多下肢损伤和疾病康复的重要组成部分之一。然而，在临床情况下，不使用设备评估踝关节跖屈肌力量的简单方法很少。本研究的目的是验证一种新型踝关节等长跖屈（PF）力量测试（PF 断裂测试[PFBT]）的内部和外部检验者可靠性以及同时效度。
病例对照研究。
在 57 名骨科患者和 30 名健康成年人中评估了 PFBT 的内部和外部检验者可靠性。比较了 PFBT 阳性和阴性病例的踝关节关节活动度和脚跟抬高次数。然后，在 30 名健康成年人中，比较了 PFBT 阳性和阴性病例在膝关节伸展和 50°屈曲位置时的等距踝关节 PF 扭矩（踝关节 PF 为 0°、15°和 30°）。
PFBT 的内部检验者可靠性（κ）为.81 至.94，外部检验者可靠性（κ）为.37 至.74。与 PFBT 阴性组相比，骨科患者中 PFBT 阳性组的踝关节关节活动度明显较小（P <.05），脚跟抬高次数明显较低（P <.001），但在健康成年人中无显著差异。与 PFBT 阴性组相比，PFBT 阳性组在所有踝关节 PF 角度下的踝关节 PF 扭矩均较小（P <.01）。膝关节伸展时踝关节 PF 末端范围的等长 PF 扭矩可以预测 PFBT 的结果，并正确分类 90.0%的病例（P <.001）。
PFBT 被认为是一种在临床环境中评估等长踝关节 PF 力量的简单而有效的方法。
