Test-Retest and Inter-Rater Reliability of Isokinetic Ankle Dorsiflexor and Plantar Flexor Strength Measurement in Healthy Adults

Objective: To determine the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of isokinetic strength measurements of ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexors. Materials and Methods: Thirteen healthy subjects (mean age: 34.3 +/- 9.2 years; female/male: 11/2) were participated in the study. Isokinetic measurements of ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion were performed by the isokinetic dynamometer. The participants were tested at 30 degrees and 120 degrees/sec angular velocities while lying in prone position. Each subject was tested three times by two examiners. All the tests were performed at the same time period of the day. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability ranged between 0.86 and 0.92 for isokinetic measurements of ankle plantar flexion and dorsiflexion at 30 degrees/sec and between 0.81 and 0.93 at 120 degrees/sec angular velocity. The ICC values for inter-rater reliability ranged between 0.81 and 0.93. Conclusion: Peak torque measurements of ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors at 30 and 120 sec angular velocities had a high intrarater and inter-rater reliability using the isokinetic dynamometer. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2073;59:32-5.