Which joints are commonly tested in resisted ROM for the ankle?

Which joints are commonly tested in resisted ROM for the ankle?

• A. Dorsiflexion and plantarflexion; sometimes inversion/eversion
• B. Dorsiflexion only
• C. Plantarflexion only
• D. Inversion and eversion

Answer: (A)

When testing ankle strength with resisted ROM, you focus on the main actions that drive the ankle joint during movement: dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. These two movements assess the primary muscle groups responsible for lifting the foot (dorsiflexors, mainly tibialis anterior) and pushing off the foot (plantarflexors, mainly the gastrocnemius–soleus complex). They’re the easiest, most functional, and most reliable movements to test in isolation or with minimal interference, which is why they’re commonly included in resisted ROM assessments. Inversion and eversion involve the subtalar joint and the smaller invertor/evertor muscles (like tibialis posterior and the peroneals). These are not routinely tested in every resisted-ROM exam, but they’re sometimes included when there’s a specific clinical reason to assess subtalar motion or to differentiate patterns of weakness. That’s why the option stating structural resistance testing of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, with inversion/eversion sometimes added, best captures what’s typically done.

When testing ankle strength with resisted ROM, you focus on the main actions that drive the ankle joint during movement: dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. These two movements assess the primary muscle groups responsible for lifting the foot (dorsiflexors, mainly tibialis anterior) and pushing off the foot (plantarflexors, mainly the gastrocnemius–soleus complex). They’re the easiest, most functional, and most reliable movements to test in isolation or with minimal interference, which is why they’re commonly included in resisted ROM assessments.

Inversion and eversion involve the subtalar joint and the smaller invertor/evertor muscles (like tibialis posterior and the peroneals). These are not routinely tested in every resisted-ROM exam, but they’re sometimes included when there’s a specific clinical reason to assess subtalar motion or to differentiate patterns of weakness. That’s why the option stating structural resistance testing of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, with inversion/eversion sometimes added, best captures what’s typically done.