Lower Body Goniometric Assessment: Technique and potential restricting structures

Why Assessment? All fitness, performance, and rehabilitation programs should start with an assessment. The goal of assessment is to refine technique selection, with the intent of improving client and patient outcomes. This course describes the reliable goniometric assessments used to assess range of motion (ROM) of the lower extremity (Note, reliable = ankle dorsiflexion goniometry is included, and ankle inversion goniometry is not).

• Goniometry - "refers to the measurement of angles, in particular, the measurement of angles created at human joints by the bones of the body (1)"

Why Goniometry? Most often, goniometric assessments highlight osteokinematic hypomobility (loss of joint ROM), aiding in the selection of release, mobilization, and stretching techniques. Less often, goniometry will highlight hypermobility (excessive joint ROM) and imply a need for activation, stabilization, and conditioning techniques. For an introduction to specific terminology, defining "good assessments," defining what goniometry measures, and best use, please check out:

• Introduction to Goniometry

Why Add Goniometry to Movement Assessment? Goniometry adds an assessment with continuous interval measures to movement assessments that only provide binary or discrete values. Assessments that only provide binary values include the Overhead Squat Assessment (OHSA) , the gastroc/soleus length test , the Functional Movement Screen, static postural assessments, the L.E.F.T. Test, and mobility-dependent special tests such as the FABER (Patrick's) Test  and FADDIR Test .

• For example, if an Overhead Squat Assessment (OHSA) results in the identification of Excessive Forward Lean , and your intervention improves but does not completely resolve Excessive Forward Lean , your reassessment with the OHSA will appear the same on paper. With the OHSA you either have Excessive Forward Lean or you do not, there is no reliable method for tracking "some improvement". However, if you follow the OHSA with Dorsiflexion Goniometry you can reliably track improvements in dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) of just 5 degrees. Note, you could also use Dorsiflexion Goniometry and Hip Extension Goniometry to aid in deducing whether interventions for addressing ankle mobility or hip mobility should be prioritized (e.g. if hip extension ROM is normal, but dorsiflexion ROM is restricted, then ankle mobilization might be prioritized).

The Brookbush Institute recommends that these assessments are added to the repertoire of all sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.).

Goniometric Assessments Covered in this Course

Each goniometric assessment in this course includes a list of potentially affected structures, and those structures are hyperlinked to courses that cover specific interventions for those structures. Predictive Models of Postural Dysfunction were used to aid in considering all muscular, articular, fascial, and neural structures that may restrict each motion.

• Hip Internal Rotation at 90 Degrees of Hip Flexion
• Hip External Rotation at 90 Degrees of Hip Flexion
• Hip Internal Rotation in Prone
• Hip External rotation in Prone
• Hip Extension
• Hip Flexion
• Hip Abduction
• Knee Flexion
• Knee Extension with Hip Flexion (Hamstring Length Test)
• Knee Extension
• Dorsiflexion

Printable PDF of the Movement Assessment Template:

• Movement Assessment Template