A simplified version of the weight-bearing ankle lunge test
The weight-bearing ankle lunge test (WBLT) is probably the most widely used method by sports practitioners to assess ankle dorsiflexion mobility.
The subject is asked to adopt a lunge posture and the dorsiflexion ROM is indirectly determined by the maximum distance between the big toe and the wall without the heel lifting from the ground while the knee is able to touch the wall. Even though the test has been proven reliable, several limitations have been noted, questioning its applicability in practice.
This study aimed to modify the original WBLT so as to be simpler to administer and test its repeatability in practice. Compared to the original, the modified version is performed with the use of a box and an inclinometer allowing for a direct measurement of ankle ROM. This version is easier to execute and faster to apply as it requires just one trial to determine the end-range as opposed to 5-6 trials while performing the original WBLT. The results of this study demonstrated the excellent test-retest reliability of the new WBLT version. > From: Cejudo et al., Man Ther 19 (2014) 335-339. All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd.. Click here for the Pubmed summary.
