ArticlePloS one2023
Reliability of a new computerized equinometer based on Silfverskiöld test to measure gastrocnemius tightness.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prone-Position Modified Silfverskiöld Test: Feasibility and Reliability.Foot & ankle orthopaedics · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSeveral tools exist to measure tightness of the gastrocnemius muscles; however, few of them are reliable enough to be used routinely in the clinic. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of a new equinometer. The secondary objective was to determine the load to apply on the plantar surface of the metatarsal heads to achieve the highest reliability when measuring gastrocnemius tightness.
methodsThe equinometer consisted of a goniometer and an electronic dynamometer, hooked up to a computer. Three raters carried out three trials of passive dorsiflexion by applying controlled pressure to the metatarsal heads of both ankles in 29 healthy subjects under two experimental conditions: knee extended (KE) and knee flexed at 30 degrees (KF). The equinometer continuously recorded the ankle dorsiflexion values (in °) corresponding to each 1 N interval of plantar pressure between 4 N and 20 N. The intra- and inter-rater reliability of the ankle dorsiflexion were evaluated through the intra-class correlation (ICC) coefficients in each of the pressure intervals.
resultsThe intra-rater ICC in KE and KF was between 0.84 and 0.98. The inter-rater ICC in KE and KF was between 0.59 and 0.92. The pressure interval between 14 N and 15 N had the highest intra-rater (ICC = 1) and inter-rater reliability (0.87≤ICC≤0.99). A more refined analysis of this interval found that a load of 14.5 N yielded the best reliability.
conclusionsThis compact equinometer has excellent intra-rater reliability and moderate to good inter-rater reliability. Since this reliability is optimal in the 14-15 N range, this load should be used going forward in clinical practice, especially when aiming to define a pathological threshold for tightness of the gastrocnemius muscles.
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