Skip to main content

Table 2 Goniometer positioning and standardization procedure for all five joint angles.

From: Development of lower limb range of motion from early childhood to adolescence in cerebral palsy: a population-based study

 

Extremity position

Goniometer:

stationary arm

Goniometer:

movable arm

End position

Additional standardization

Hip abduction

Supine. Test leg in natural (extended position).

Along a line joining the two anterior superior iliac spines.

Parallel to longitudinal axis of femur.

Hip abducted to limit of motion

Pelvis stabilized by fixing opposite leg slightly abducted and flexed over edge of plinth.

Hip external rotation

Prone. With extended hips and the test leg knee flexed to 90°. Tester holding the tested leg and secure the pelvic rotation by stabilizing the pelvis with the other hand.

Parallel to the plinth.

Parallel to longitudinal axis of tibia.

External rotation to limit of motion just before pelvis just starts to lift from plinth.

 

Popliteal angle

Supine. Test leg flexed to 90° hip and knee. Place one hand at the anterior aspect of the knee, and other at the distal calf, posteriorly.

Parallel to the sagittal plane of femur.

Parallel to the sagittal plane of tibia.

Knee extended to limit of motion.

Estimate the degrees of the angle on the posterior side of the flexed knee. A fully extended knee is 180°.

Contralateral leg maintained in extension to stabilize the pelvis.

Knee extension

Supine with extended hips and knees.

Parallel to femur and trochanter major.

Parallel to tibia and the lateral malleol.

Knee extended to limit of motion.

Extension deficit is reported with minus.

 

Foot dorsiflexion

Supine. The knee extended.

Parallel to the longitudinal axis of fibula.

Parallel to the longitudinal axis of fifth metatarsal.

Foot dorsiflexed to limit of motion.

Hind foot maintained in neutral to avoid calcaneal valgus or varus.