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The ability of the Biodex Stability System to distinguish level of function in subjects with a second-degree ankle sprain

Physiotherapy Clinic, Valcartier Garrison, 5th Field Ambulance, Canadian Forces Health Services and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada

Luc J Hébert

Canadian Forces Health Services Headquarters, Ottawa and Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada

Bradford J McFadyen

Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University and CIRRIS, Quebec City, Canada

Sylvain Belzile

Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Quebec City, Canada

Mario Regnieàre

Clinique de physiothé rapie de Cap-Rouge, Quebec City, Canada

Objective: To assess the capacity of the Biodex Stability System using a one-leg stance protocol to differentiate between injured and non-injured limbs and between level of disabilities.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Military and civilian clinic.

Subjects: Thirty-four individuals with a second-degree lateral ankle sprain and 36 healthy subjects.

Methods and measures: Subjects were tested on the Stability System 30 days after injury using a one-leg stance protocol in the dynamic limit-of-stability mode. All subjects also filled out a disability questionnaire (Lower Extremity Functional Scale). The groups were compared based on the overall dynamic limit-of-stability score and its relationship with the score on the disability questionnaire was also examined.

Results: The overall dynamic limit-of-stability scores (subjects with a lateral ankle sprain: 13.0% (5.5)-26.0% (9.2); healthy subjects: 16.9% (7.9)-27.9% (9.6)) clustered in the lower end of the theoretical range of 0–100%. Statistically significant differences in the overall dynamic limit-of-stability scores were found between the injured and non-injured limbs but group differences were small and clinically not relevant. No significant relationships were found between the overall dynamic limit-of-stability scores and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale scores (58.2 (11.8)) of the subjects with a lateral ankle sprain.

Conclusions: The one-leg stance protocol carried out in the dynamic limit-of-stability mode is very challenging and offers a very limited capacity to differentiate between injured and non-injured limbs. The main outcome of the Stability System does not appear to be a good indicator of the functional capacity of people with a lateral ankle sprain.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 21, No. 1, 73-81 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0269215506071288


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