Abstract
[Purpose] To determine the most accurate and efficient method for foot and ankle volume measurement by comparing measurement reliability, the association with the water volumetry, and the time needed for measurement when using 3 different circumference measurement methods. [Subjects and Methods] Foot and ankle volume measurement was performed in the 20 feet of 10 healthy adults, using the following 3 circumference measurement methods, in addition to the water volumetry: figure-of-eight (FOE) method, a modified version of the FOE method (Modified method), and a combination of the FOE and Modified methods (Combi method). [Results] The FOE method showed the highest inter-rater reliability, followed by the Combi and Modified methods, in this order. All of the 3 methods showed a strong, positive correlation with the water volumetry. The time needed for measurement was longer when using the Combi compared with FOE and Modified methods. [Conclusion] Reducing measurement errors and the duration of measurement, the FOE method may be the most clinically useful method for volume measurement.
