Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM)
A patient-reported outcome measure assessing physical function in foot and ankle disorders. Includes two subscales: activities of daily living and sports.
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FAAM - Foot and Ankle Ability Measure
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About This Form
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.
Medical Specialties
Anatomic Areas
Clinical Indications
Developer Information
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 & Licensing
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
Answer all questions about your foot and ankle function over the past week. If you did not perform an activity, estimate your ability. Use "Not Applicable" only if the activity is not relevant to you. For bilateral problems, rate your more symptomatic foot/ankle.
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.
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.
Score Interpretation
Understanding what your score means
poor
0 - 49Severe functional limitations - poor foot/ankle function with significant impact on most activities
fair
50 - 74Moderate functional limitations - fair foot/ankle function with noticeable impact on daily and sporting activities
good
75 - 89Mild functional limitations - good foot/ankle function with slight difficulties in some activities
excellent
90 - 100Minimal or no functional limitations - excellent foot/ankle function with ability to perform all activities without difficulty
Subscales
This questionnaire measures multiple dimensions
Activities of Daily Living (0-100)
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
Sports (0-100)
Evaluates sports-related activities including running, jumping, landing, starting/stopping quickly, cutting/lateral movements, low impact activities, normal technique performance, and sport participation duration
Clinical 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.
This questionnaire is provided free of charge. Patient Watch charges only for platform services (data storage, automated reminders, analytics)—not for use of clinical instruments. This non-commercial model supports academic and clinical use. View full licensing disclosure