Ankle Flexibility Testing: Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT)

The Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT) is a simple and reliable assessment for one of the most important movements of the body, foot, and ankle dorsiflexion. Using the MAT you can quickly and effectively measure this movement as a total distance in centimeters or use an inclinometer application on your smartphone to measure the angle of tibial inclination. 

Research has shown that a total lunge distance of less than 10cm, or a greater than 2cm discrepancy from side to side has an association with risk of lower limb injuries such as ankle sprains and shin splints. Alternatively, a tibial inclination angle of less than 35°-38° can also be used as a cut off measurement when assessing the people that you work with. Reduced foot and ankle dorsiflexion may also affect the symmetry and efficiency in which your clients can perform lower limb exercises such as squats and lunges.

Procedure:

1. The subject is standing on The MAT
2. The foot is placed on the MAT star with the foot behind the red line with the centre of the calcaneus and 2nd digit on the sagittal plane line.
3. The subject drives knee anteriorly until maximum dorsiflexion is reached with the heel in contact with the ground and the 2m folding ruler is placed with the flat side (not stepped wider side) touching the knee and the measurement line on the MAT.
4. Measurement of the tibial shaft angle can also be calculated using an inclinometer.