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FAAM

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure assesses physical function for individuals with foot and ankle related impairments

What is the FAAM?

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) is a widely validated, patient-reported outcome measure specifically designed to assess physical function in individuals with foot and ankle disorders. This comprehensive questionnaire evaluates both everyday activities and sports-related tasks, making it suitable for diverse patient populations from sedentary individuals to elite athletes. The FAAM has been extensively validated across multiple conditions and languages, and is considered one of the gold-standard measures for foot and ankle function assessment.

Scoring System

The FAAM consists of two independent subscales: Activities of Daily Living (ADL) with 21 items and Sports with 8 items. Each item uses a 5-point Likert scale: 4 = No difficulty, 3 = Slight difficulty, 2 = Moderate difficulty, 1 = Extreme difficulty, 0 = Unable to do. Items may be marked as PGFALIAS0 (N/A). Scoring formula: [(sum of item scores) / (number of items answered × 4)] × 100 = percentage score. N/A responses are excluded from calculations. Scores range from 0-100% where higher scores indicate better function. Each subscale is scored independently; no total FAAM score is calculated. Minimum 90% of items (19/21 for ADL, 7/8 for Sports) must be answered for valid subscale scoring.

General Information

Importance:
Common
Scoring:
Higher is Better
Time to Complete:
8 minutes
Pages:
3
Questions:
31
Licensed:
No

Clinical Information

Medical Specialties:
orthopaedics sports medicine physiotherapy
Anatomic Areas:
foot ankle
Indications:
Chronic ankle instability Ankle sprain Plantar fasciitis Achilles tendinopathy Foot and ankle surgery outcomes General foot and ankle dysfunction

Instructions

The FAAM should be self-administered and typically takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Patients should answer all questions based on their foot and ankle function over the past week. If patients have not performed a specific activity in the past week, they should estimate their perceived ability to perform that activity. The "Not Applicable" option should only be used if the activity is truly not relevant to the patient (e.g., sports questions for non-athletes). For bilateral conditions, patients should rate the function of their more symptomatic foot/ankle. The questionnaire can be completed on paper, electronically, or via interview. All questions should be answered for optimal scoring accuracy.

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FAAM

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure assesses physical function for individuals with foot and ankle related impairments

Instructions:

The FAAM should be self-administered and typically takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Patients should answer all questions based on their foot and ankle function over the past week. If patients have not performed a specific activity in the past week, they should estimate their perceived ability to perform that activity. The "Not Applicable" option should only be used if the activity is truly not relevant to the patient (e.g., sports questions for non-athletes). For bilateral conditions, patients should rate the function of their more symptomatic foot/ankle. The questionnaire can be completed on paper, electronically, or via interview. All questions should be answered for optimal scoring accuracy.

Activities of Daily Living

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Overall Rating

Patient Watch Form - 10/31/2025

Detailed Scoring Methodology

The FAAM consists of two independent subscales: Activities of Daily Living (ADL) with 21 items and Sports with 8 items. Each item uses a 5-point Likert scale: 4 = No difficulty, 3 = Slight difficulty, 2 = Moderate difficulty, 1 = Extreme difficulty, 0 = Unable to do. Items may be marked as PGFALIAS0 (N/A). Scoring formula: [(sum of item scores) / (number of items answered × 4)] × 100 = percentage score. N/A responses are excluded from calculations. Scores range from 0-100% where higher scores indicate better function. Each subscale is scored independently; no total FAAM score is calculated. Minimum 90% of items (19/21 for ADL, 7/8 for Sports) must be answered for valid subscale scoring.

Assessment Subscales

Activities of Daily Living

Assesses ability to perform daily activities including standing, walking (various surfaces and durations), stairs, curbs, squatting, walking initially, home responsibilities, personal care, and work activities

Questions: 21
Score Range: 0-100
Sports

Evaluates sports-related activities including running, jumping, landing, starting/stopping quickly, cutting/lateral movements, low impact activities, normal technique performance, and sport participation duration

Questions: 8
Score Range: 0-100

Meaningful Change Threshold

Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID): ADL subscale ≈ 8 points, Sports subscale ≈ 9 points. Minimal Detectable Change (MDC): ADL subscale ≈ 5.7 points (90% CI), Sports subscale ≈ 12.3 points (90% CI). Changes exceeding these thresholds represent clinically meaningful improvements or deteriorations in function.

About the Developers

The FAAM was developed by RobRoy L. Martin, PhD, PT, James J. Irrgang, PhD, PT, ATC, and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Delaware between 1999-2005. The development process involved extensive literature review, expert consultation, patient interviews, and rigorous psychometric testing. The FAAM was specifically designed to address the lack of region-specific functional outcome measures for foot and ankle disorders, with particular emphasis on being suitable for both general foot/ankle conditions and athletic populations.

Copyright Information

The FAAM is freely available for clinical and research use without licensing fees or permission requirements. The questionnaire is in the public domain and can be used, reproduced, and distributed without restriction. Users are encouraged to cite the original development and validation papers. Commercial electronic implementations should acknowledge the original developers. No copyright restrictions apply.

Administration Instructions

The FAAM should be self-administered and typically takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Patients should answer all questions based on their foot and ankle function over the past week. If patients have not performed a specific activity in the past week, they should estimate their perceived ability to perform that activity. The "Not Applicable" option should only be used if the activity is truly not relevant to the patient (e.g., sports questions for non-athletes). For bilateral conditions, patients should rate the function of their more symptomatic foot/ankle. The questionnaire can be completed on paper, electronically, or via interview. All questions should be answered for optimal scoring accuracy.

Limitations & Considerations

The FAAM is a self-reported measure and may be influenced by patient mood, expectations, litigation, or secondary gain. The Sports subscale may not be applicable to sedentary populations and may show ceiling effects in elite athletes. The questionnaire does not assess pain as a primary construct, though pain influences functional ability ratings. Cultural and language translations require validation. The FAAM does not differentiate between specific foot/ankle pathologies and may not capture condition-specific symptoms. Responses rely on patient recall over the past week, which may be subject to memory bias.

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