A Soft, Wearable, Quantitative Ankle Diagnostic Device¹

Approximately 27,000 inversion ankle sprains occur every day in the U.S. [1]. Regardless of the type of sprain, returning to work or sport prematurely is the primary cause for continued ankle disability [1]. Approximately 50% of people who have an acute ankle injury will re-injure the ankle [1]. Therefore, assessment of recovery, including ankle strength and stability, is essential before resuming normal activity. Several studies have shown that leg power and its key components torque and velocity are key indicators of mobility and performance [2–5]. Extending the results from these studies to describe the ankle indicates that measuring ankle power during recovery may lead to a better understanding of the ankle's readiness for work or sport. Although some devices (e.g., dynamometers) allow clinicians to test power and torque capacity, due to factors such as cost and complex protocols, clinicians mostly use qualitative...