Ankle Assessment
Physiotherapy · Subjective & Objective Examination
ANKLE
RightLeft
RightLeftBilat
1
Presentation & Red Flags
Red flags — Ottawa Ankle Rules
Imaging indicated if pain in the malleolar / midfoot zone AND any of:
No red flagsBony tenderness — posterior edge / tip of lateral malleolusBony tenderness — posterior edge / tip of medial malleolusBony tenderness — base of 5th metatarsalBony tenderness — navicularUnable to weight-bear 4 steps (immediately & in clinic)
2
History
3
Pain
Mark pain location, type & radiation
No pain
Worst
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night
Plot key events along the line — injury, flare-ups, treatments, return to activity, milestones.
4
Lifestyle & Context
Sleep
Diet
Smoking
Alcohol
5
Clinical Reasoning Framework
Characterise the presentation — circle / annotate the relevant descriptors on each strip.
Diagnosis
Stage of disorder
Pain features
6
Flags & Whole-Person Considerations
7
Goals
8
Objective — Ankle
Range of motion (A = Active P = Passive — note both if different)
| Movement | Right | Left | Norm / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorsiflexion | |||
| Plantarflexion | |||
| Inversion | |||
| Eversion |
Strength record per movement
| Load (kg) | |
| Movement | |
| Patient position | |
| Angle / joint | |
| Result | |
| Laterality |
Neurovascular screen
Notes
Special tests
| Special test | Right | Left | Finding / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anterior Drawer | |||
| Talar Tilt | |||
| Posterior glide test | |||
| Squeeze Test syndesmosis | |||
| Royal London Hospital Achilles | |||
| Thompson Test | |||
| Edema — figure-of-eight (cm) |
Palpation
Tick tender / relevant structures
Medial malleolusLateral malleolusLigaments (ATFL / CFL / deltoid)SyndesmosisBase of 5th metatarsal
9
Functional Assessment
Static — loaded tasks
| Task | Right | Left | Observation / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squat | |||
| Split squat | |||
| Lateral lunges | |||
| Weight-bearing lunge test (+++) | |||
| Calf raise — bilateral | |||
| Calf raise — unilateral | |||
| Calf raise — angle variation | |||
| Gait toes / heel / lateral border | |||
| Others |
Dynamic — balance
| Task | Right | Left | Observation / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single leg stance | Eyes open Eyes closed | Eyes open Eyes closed | |
| mSEBT (Star Excursion) | |||
| Hold step up | |||
| Side step up | |||
| RDL unilateral | |||
| Others |
Jump / plyometric
| Task | Right | Left | Observation / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jump — bilateral | |||
| Jump — unilateral | |||
| Side hop test | |||
| Figure-of-eight hop | |||
| Triple jump | |||
| Klatt test | |||
| Others |
10
Adjacent Joints
Knee — mobility
Hip
Thomas · 90/90 · Neutral-pelvis standing extension
11
Others
12
Retest
| Date | Test / measure | Result (R / L) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
13
Questionnaires
Patient-reported outcome measures — record the score at baseline and at each retest.
| Questionnaire | Date | Score | Notes / interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment — Achilles (VISA-A) | |||
| Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) |
14