Ankle size measurements with the foot in a free haning position: Reliability of the Figure-of-Eight Tape Method

Ankle swelling is a commonly encountered condition in physiotherapy practice. Reliable and easy methods of quantification are required to record progress in treatment. The aim of this study was to establish the inter- and intra-reliability of the figure-of-eight tape measure for measuring ankle size. Thirty-six healthy subjects were measured in long-sitting position with the foot hanging free over the edge of a plinth. Three testers performed four measurements each for a total of 12 measurements per subject. The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.96 for inter-tester reliability and 0.94 for intra-tester reliability. The results agree with previous reliability studies using the figure-of-eight tape method on healthy subjects. The figure-of-eight tape method is easily learned and applied. It is a reliable method for measuring ankle size. Further research is needed to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the technique in a clinical setting.