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Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM)

Assesses functional limitations and disability related to foot and ankle conditions in daily activities and sports.

Provided by EVAL Foundation
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Instructions

  • Rate your level of difficulty with each activity over the past week due to your foot and ankle condition.

  • For each item, select the response that best describes your current ability, ranging from 'No Difficulty At All' to 'Unable to do.' Mark 'N/A' if an activity does not apply to you.

  • At the end of each section, provide an overall function rating from 0-100, where 100 represents your function before the foot and ankle problem and 0 represents inability to perform any usual activities.

Activities of Daily Living Scale

  • Please rate your level of difficulty with each of the following activities over the past week due to your foot and ankle condition.

0%

Originally published in 2005 in Foot and Ankle International, the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) was developed to assess the physical function of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders of the leg, foot, and ankle. The FAAM is a 29-item self-report instrument that evaluates functional limitations in patients with foot and ankle pathology.

Scoring Components

The FAAM comprises two subscales:

  1. Activities of Daily Living (21 items): points awarded based on choices. Selecting a choice of n/a excludes question from calculation. Result includes total points and a 0-100% rating

  2. Sports (7 items): Selecting a choice of n/a excludes question from calculation. Results include total points and a 0-100% rating

Note: Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (0-4), with higher scores indicating better function. The FAAM ADL and Sports subscale scores are calculated as percentages, with 100% representing no functional limitation and 0% representing complete inability.

The instrument also includes global function ratings for each domain.

  1. ADL Global Function Rating: 0-100%

  2. Sports Global Function Rating: 0-100%

The instrument also includes a rating of current level of function.

  1. Rate of current level of function: Normal, Nearly Normal, Abnormal, Severely abnormal

Calculations

A) Activities  of  Daily  Living  Scale

  • Number  of  Completed  Responses  (‘n’); (max  =  21)

  • Activities  of  Daily  Living  Score  =  (sum of n responses/ n x 4) ×100

B) Sports  Scale

  • Number  of  Completed  Responses  (‘n’); (max  =  7)

  • Sports  Score  =   (sum of n responses/ n x 4) x 100

The FAAM has strong psychometric properties, including reliability and validity, and is widely used in clinical practice and research to monitor patient progress, establish baselines, and assess treatment outcomes in foot and ankle rehabilitation.

Score Developer: Dr. Jesse Van Swearingen is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and chairs the research committee for the American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Geriatrics.

Original Literature:

  • Martin, RobRoy L., et al. “Evidence of validity for the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM).” Foot & Ankle International 26.11 (2005): 968-983.

Additional Literature:

  • Martin, Robroy L., and James J. Irrgang. “A survey of self-reported outcome instruments for the foot and ankle.” Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 37.2 (2007): 72-84.

  • Cosby, Nicole L., and Jay Hertel. “Clinical assessment of ankle injury outcomes: case scenario using the foot and ankle ability measure.” Journal of sport rehabilitation 20.1 (2011): 89-99.

All questions & possible results

Activities of Daily Living Scale

  • Please rate your level of difficulty with each of the following activities over the past week due to your foot and ankle condition.

1. Standing

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
2. Walking on even ground

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
3. Walking on even ground without shoes

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
4. Walking up hills

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
5. Walking down hills

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
6. Going up stairs

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
7. Going down stairs

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
8. Walking on uneven ground

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
9. Stepping up and down curbs

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
10. Squatting

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
11. Coming up on your toes

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
12. Walking initially

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
13. Walking 5 minutes or less

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
14. Walking approximately 10 minutes

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty 10
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
15. Walking 15 minutes or greater

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
16. Home responsibilities

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
17. Activities of daily living

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
18. Personal care

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
19. Light to moderate work (standing, walking)

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
20. Heavy work (push/pulling, climbing, carrying)

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
21. Recreational activities

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
Global Function: Activities of Daily Living

ADL Global Function Rating

How would you rate your current level of function during your usual activities of daily living from 0 to 100?

  • 100 being your level of function prior to your foot and ankle problem.

  • 0 being the inability to perform any of your usual daily activities.

A number between 0 and 100 (whole numbers), in %.

Sports Scale

  • Please rate your level of difficulty with each of the following sports-related activities over the past week due to your foot and ankle condition.

1. Running

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
2. Jumping

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
3. Landing

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
4. Starting and stopping quickly

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
5. Cutting/lateral movements

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
6. Low impact activities

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
7. Ability to perform activity with your normal technique

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
8. Ability to participate in your desired sport as long as you would like

Select one option:

  • No Difficulty At All
  • Slight Difficulty
  • Moderate Difficulty
  • Extreme Difficulty
  • Unable to do
  • N/A
Global Function: Sports
Sports Global Function Rating

How would you rate your current level of function during your sports related activities from 0 to 100?

  • 100 being your level of function prior to your foot and ankle problem.

  • 0 being the inability to perform any of your usual daily activities.

A number between 0 and 100 (whole numbers), in %.

Level of Function
How would you rate your current level of function?

Select one option:

  • Normal
  • Nearly Normal
  • Abnormal
  • Severely Abnormal
Possible results
Pertinent Positive: Personal care- Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Home responsibilities- Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking 15 minutes or greater- Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Starting & stopping quickly - Slightly Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Squatting - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Coming up on toes - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Negative: Going down stairs - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Negative: Personal care- No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Jumping - Slightly Difficult
Sports Global Functioning Rating: <50%

  • 0% represents inability to perform sports activities

  • 100% represents no change in function

Pertinent Positive: Walking approximately 10 minutes - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Stepping up and down curbs - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Light to moderate work (Standing, walking) - Extreme Difficulty
ADL Global Functioning Rating: 50-99%

  • 0% represents inability to perform daily activities

  • 100% represents no change in function

Pertinent Positive: Low impact activities - Extremely Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Starting & stopping quickly - Extremely Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Heavy work (Push/pulling, climbing, carrying) - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Negative: Home responsibilities- No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Walking on even ground - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking up hills - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Ability to perform activity with your normal technique - Slightly Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Home responsibilities- Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Standing - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking on uneven ground - Slight Difficulty
Current Level of Function Rating: Nearly normal
Pertinent Positive: Home responsibilities- Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Negative: Walking on even ground without shoes - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Stepping up and down curbs - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Landing - Slightly Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Light to moderate work (Standing, walking) - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking 15 minutes or greater- Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking approximately 10 minutes - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Home responsibilities- Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Negative: Activities of daily living- No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Going up stairs - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Personal care- Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Jumping - Moderately Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Going up stairs - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Standing - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Low impact activities - Slightly Difficult
Pertinent Negative: Ability to perform activity with your normal technique - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Recreational Activities - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Landing - Unable to do
Pertinent Negative: Walking down hills - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Running - Moderate Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Going up stairs - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking 5 minutes or less- Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Squatting - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Cutting/lateral movements - Extremely Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Stepping up and down curbs - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking 15 minutes or greater- Unable to do
Pertinent Negative: Light to moderate work (Standing, walking) - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Negative: Walking on uneven ground - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Activities of daily living- Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Going down stairs - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Coming up on toes - Extreme Difficulty
Sports Global Functioning Rating: 100%

  • 0% represents inability to perform sports activities

  • 100% represents no change in function

Pertinent Negative: Cutting/lateral movements - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Negative: Standing - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Recreational Activities - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking on even ground without shoes - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Jumping - Extremely Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Activities of daily living- Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Going down stairs - Unable to do
Pertinent Negative: Running - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Cutting/lateral movements - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking 5 minutes or less- Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Going down stairs - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Running - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking up hills - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Heavy work (Push/pulling, climbing, carrying) - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking down hills - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Negative: Squatting - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Light to moderate work (Standing, walking) - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Cutting/lateral movements - Slightly Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Standing - Unable to do
Sports Global Functioning Rating: 50-99%

  • 0% represents inability to perform sports activities

  • 100% represents no change in function

Pertinent Positive: Ability to perform activity with your normal technique - Extremely Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Walking approximately 10 minutes - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking on uneven ground - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking down hills - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking on even ground without shoes - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Negative: Walking 15 minutes or greater- No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Negative: Starting & stopping quickly - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Walking on even ground - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Coming up on toes - Slight Difficulty
FAAM Activities of Daily Living Score

ADL Global Functioning Rating: <50%

  • 0% represents inability to perform daily activities

  • 100% represents no change in function

Pertinent Positive: Landing - Moderately Difficult
Pertinent Negative: Stepping up and down curbs - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Walking on uneven ground - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Low impact activities - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking initially - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Ability to participate in your desired sport as long as you would like - Extremely Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Walking on even ground - Slight Difficulty
FAAM Sports Score

Pertinent Positive: Walking up hills - Unable to do
Pertinent Negative: Recreational Activities - No Difficulty At All
Current Level of Function Rating: Severely abnormal
Pertinent Positive: Activities of daily living- Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Squatting - Extreme Difficulty
Current Level of Function Rating: Abnormal
Pertinent Positive: Running - Slightly Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Personal care- Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Low impact activities - Moderately Difficult
Pertinent Negative: Walking initially - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Standing - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking initially - Unable to do
Pertinent Negative: Low impact activities - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Ability to perform activity with your normal technique - Moderately Difficult
Pertinent Negative: Walking 5 minutes or less- No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Walking on even ground - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Heavy work (Push/pulling, climbing, carrying) - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Ability to perform activity with your normal technique - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking on even ground without shoes - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Recreational Activities - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Negative: Landing - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Negative: Coming up on toes - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Jumping - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Squatting - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking initially - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking 5 minutes or less- Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Cutting/lateral movements - Moderately Difficult
Current Level of Function Rating: Normal
Pertinent Positive: Walking down hills - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Ability to participate in your desired sport as long as you would like - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Recreational Activities - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Stepping up and down curbs - Unable to do
Pertinent Negative: Walking approximately 10 minutes - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Running - Extremely Difficult
ADL Global Functioning Rating: 100%

  • 0% represents inability to perform daily activities

  • 100% represents no change in function

Pertinent Negative: Jumping - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Starting & stopping quickly - Unable to do
Pertinent Positive: Walking on uneven ground - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking 15 minutes or greater- Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Ability to participate in your desired sport as long as you would like - Moderately Difficult
Pertinent Negative: Walking up hills - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Going up stairs - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Going down stairs - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking 5 minutes or less- Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Starting & stopping quickly - Moderately Difficult
Pertinent Positive: Walking approximately 10 minutes - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Personal care- Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Walking on even ground without shoes - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Landing - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Ability to participate in your desired sport as long as you would like - Slightly Difficult
Pertinent Negative: Going up stairs - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Activities of daily living- Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Heavy work (Push/pulling, climbing, carrying) - Unable to do
Pertinent Negative: Ability to participate in your desired sport as long as you would like - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Walking up hills - Moderate Difficulty
Pertinent Negative: Walking on even ground - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Walking initially - Extreme Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Light to moderate work (Standing, walking) - Slight Difficulty
Pertinent Positive: Coming up on toes - Unable to do
Pertinent Negative: Heavy work (Push/pulling, climbing, carrying) - No Difficulty At All
Pertinent Positive: Walking down hills - Extreme Difficulty

Citation

Score Developer: Dr. Jesse Van Swearingen is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and chairs the research committee for the American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Geriatrics.

Martin, RobRoy L., et al. “Evidence of validity for the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM).” Foot & Ankle International 26.11 (2005): 968-983.

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