Validity of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure in athletes with chronic ankle instability

Abstract

Context: The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) is a region-specific, non-disease-specific outcome instrument that possesses many of the clinimetric qualities recommended for an outcome instrument. Evidence of validity to support the use of the FAAM is available in individuals with a wide array of ankle and foot disorders. However, additional evidence to support the use of the FAAM for those with chronic ankle instability (CAI) is needed.

Objective: To provide evidence of construct validity for the FAAM based on hypothesis testing in athletes with CAI.

Design: Between-groups comparison.

Setting: Athletic training room.

Patients or other participants: Thirty National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II athletes (16 men, 14 women) from one university.

Main outcome measure(s): The FAAM including activities of daily living (ADL) and sports subscales and the global and categorical ratings of function.

Results: For both the ADL and sports subscales, FAAM scores were greater in healthy participants (100 +/- 0.0 and 99 +/- 3.5, respectively) than in subjects with CAI (88 +/- 7.7 and 76 +/- 12.7, respectively; P < .001). Similarly, for both ADL and sports subscales, FAAM scores were greater in athletes who indicated that their ankles were normal (98 +/- 6.3 and 96 +/- 6.9, respectively) than in those who classified their ankles as either nearly normal or abnormal (87 +/- 6.6 and 71 +/- 11.1, respectively; P < .001). We found relationships between FAAM scores and self-reported global ratings of function for both ADL and sports subscales. Relationships were stronger when all athletes, rather than just those with CAI, were included in the analyses.

Conclusions: The FAAM may be used to detect self-reported functional deficits related to CAI.

Keywords: ankle sprains; evaluative instrument; outcomes; self-report.

Figures

Figure 1. Scatterplot showing the relationship between scores on the activities of daily living subscale of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure and the global rating of function for activities of daily living (n  =  15). Data are from participants with chronic ankle instability only (2 athletes scored 100 on both measures).

Figure 2. Scatterplot showing the relationship between scores on the sports subscale of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and the global rating of function for sports (n  =  15). Data are from participants with chronic ankle instability only (2 athletes scored 100 on both measures).