Good to Excellent Reliability of Instrumented Ankle Passive Resistance and Strength Measurements in Children
By
Åhblom, Alexandra
Duan, Zhihao
Destro, Antea
Pontén, Eva
Lidbeck, Cecilia
Wang, Ruoli
May 14, 2026
Clinical Report: High Reliability of Instrumented Measurements for Ankle Passive Resistance and Muscle Strength in Pediatric Patients
Overview This study evaluates the reliability of instrumented measurements for assessing ankle resistance and muscle strength in children.
Background Reliable assessments of ankle resistance and muscle strength are essential for diagnosing and managing various conditions affecting motor function.
Data Highlights Measurement ICC (95% CI) Stiffness Coefficient 0.79 (0.13, 0.94) Maximal Neural Torque 0.96 (0.86, 0.99) Maximal Voluntary Contraction of Plantarflexors 0.96 (0.86, 0.99) Maximal Voluntary Contraction of Dorsiflexors 0.96 (0.86, 0.99)
Key Findings The NeuroFlexor demonstrated good to excellent reliability for measuring passive ankle resistance. Maximal neural torque showed an ICC of 0.96, indicating high reliability. Maximal voluntary contraction measurements for both plantarflexors and dorsiflexors also exhibited an ICC of 0.96. The study involved 11 typically developing children aged 7–14 years. Testing was performed twice on the same day with a 2-hour interval. Clinical Implications The findings support the use of instrumented measurements for assessing ankle resistance and muscle strength in pediatric patients.
Conclusion The study confirms that instrumented measurements provide reliable assessments of ankle resistance and muscle strength in children.
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