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.