THE MEASUREMENT OF THE RANGE OF MOTION OF KNEE AND ANKLE JOINTS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

In the study, the measurement of joint motion capacities of knee and ankle joints in young healthy adults was aimed as an attempt to determine standard ranges for the population. Measurements were carried out in 40 male and 40 female subjects who were aged 17-22 yrs by using a digital electronic inclinometer. Flexion, internal rotation, external rotation motion capacities for the knee joint were measured on both sides. Dorsal flexion, plantar flexion, inversion and eversion at the ankle joint were also measured. No statistically significant differences were obtained for flexion capacity figures of the knee, among extremity side and gender, either. However, males had higher (p<0.05) internal (11.0 ± 1.9o) and external rotation (24.0 ± 2.0o) figures compared with females (9.6 ± 1.8o and 20.8 ± 2.3o, respectively). No statistical difference was observed among genders when ankle movement capacities for plantar flexion, inversion and eversion (p>0.05). Significant differences (p<0.05) in favor of men were found for dorsal flexion capacity (21.2 ± 2.3o vs 19.1 ± 2.2o). The lower level knee rotation and ankle dorsal flexion capacities for the females were thought to be associated with wearing high-heeled shoes, as knee and ankle joint kinetics is known to be affected by high-heeled shoe usage. The average motion capacity figures obtained may be promising in obtaining a standard for healthy and young Turkish people, and be a guide for physicians with respect to the treatment of motion losses that occur in joint affections.