Portable Ankle Instability Measurement System

Ankle sprains occur frequently with military personnel and in the general population. An early diagnosis of an ankle sprain is crucial to prevent the development of chronic ankle instability and to decrease the need for further intervention. A portable device that can be used to evaluate and quantify ankle instability in any setting (clinical, residential, field, etc.) by conducting a variety of tests would be very useful for this purpose. The NextGen team plans to design, test and validate a proof-of-concept portable ankle instability measurement system (AIMS) in the Phase I effort. To meet this objective, we will develop a conceptual design for the device to test dorsiflexion/plantar flexion range of motion (ROM), inversion/eversion ROM, isometric strength and laxity in portable, inexpensive device. By the end of Phase I we will establish the basic functionality and quantify the performance of the prototype AIMS device. This will provide a strong foundation for IRB approved human testing and design improvement in Phase II. We will achieve TRL of 3 by end of Phase I and mature the technology to TRL 6-7 in Phase II.