Ankle Dorsiflexion (WBLT)
The Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT) is a knee-to-wall measure of ankle dorsiflexion performed with body weight over the tested foot. The score is the farthest toe-to-wall distance, in centimeters, that still allows the knee to touch the wall without the heel lifting. It is used in sports medicine and physiotherapy as a screen relevant to squatting, gait, running mechanics, and older-adult mobility. These norms are distance-based and should not be compared directly with ankle dorsiflexion angles in degrees. Data are from McBride et al. (2026), a cross-sectional study of 899 healthy adults from Canada, Spain, and Iran.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Flat wall without a baseboard
- Measuring tape fixed to the floor
- Flat, non-slip surface
- Protocol Steps
-
- Stand facing a wall with the tested foot perpendicular to the wall and the big toe aligned with the measuring tape.
- Keep the heel down and lunge forward until the knee touches the wall.
- Move the foot gradually farther from the wall until reaching the farthest distance where the knee can still touch the wall without heel lift.
- Keep the foot pointing forward and avoid foot pronation or hip rotation.
- Measure the distance from the tip of the hallux to the wall to the nearest millimeter.
- Test both sides.
- Scoring
Record the distance in centimeters. Higher values indicate greater weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion.
- Notes
The source found no meaningful average left-right difference, but individual side-to-side asymmetry can still matter clinically. Distance-based WBLT values are not directly comparable to angle-based dorsiflexion measurements.
Data source: McBride et al. (2026) About this study
Ankle Dorsiflexion (WBLT) Norms Chart by Age and Sex (cm)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 18-29 | Male | 4.7 | 8.0 | 11.0 | 13.2 | 22.1 |
| Female | 4.7 | 9.8 | 11.3 | 12.8 | 17.9 | |
| 30-39 | Male | 4.3 | 8.8 | 11.2 | 14.0 | 20.5 |
| Female | 4.9 | 9.8 | 11.4 | 13.8 | 17.9 | |
| 40-49 | Male | 6.1 | 8.0 | 11.0 | 14.0 | 18.0 |
| Female | 4.6 | 8.6 | 10.4 | 13.0 | 14.5 | |
| 50-59 | Male | 4.9 | 7.5 | 10.4 | 13.8 | 17.8 |
| Female | 4.0 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 11.5 | 14.5 | |
| 60-69 | Male | 4.2 | 7.0 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 17.2 |
| Female | 2.2 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 13.8 | |
| 70-79 | Male | 2.0 | 5.8 | 7.4 | 9.9 | 11.0 |
| Female | 2.0 | 5.0 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 10.8 | |
| 80+ | Male | 3.2 | 5.0 | 6.6 | 8.0 | 11.8 |
| Female | 0.3 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 10.8 | |
What to expect by age group
For adults under 50, the middle 50% of WBLT distances is roughly 8.0 to 14.0 cm in men and 8.6 to 13.8 cm in women. Values decline more clearly after age 60: central values are about 7.4 cm in men and 6.5 cm in women aged 70-79, and about 6.6 cm and 5.7 cm respectively at age 80+.
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 18-29 | 8.0 to 13.2 | 9.8 to 12.8 |
| 30-39 | 8.8 to 14.0 | 9.8 to 13.8 |
| 40-49 | 8.0 to 14.0 | 8.6 to 13.0 |
| 50-59 | 7.5 to 13.8 | 7.5 to 11.5 |
| 60-69 | 7.0 to 10.6 | 7.0 to 9.0 |
| 70-79 | 5.8 to 9.9 | 5.0 to 8.0 |
| 80+ | 5.0 to 8.0 | 5.0 to 6.2 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a normal knee-to-wall test result?
In adults under 50, typical WBLT distances are around 11 cm, with the middle 50% usually spanning about 8 to 14 cm depending on age and sex. By ages 70-79, central values are about 7.4 cm in men and 6.5 cm in women.
Why do WBLT values decline with age?
In this dataset, central WBLT distance is roughly stable from 18 through the 50s, then drops noticeably from the 60s onward. The decline is steeper in women than in men in the older brackets.
Is WBLT measured in centimeters or degrees?
This page uses the distance-based WBLT score in centimeters: the toe-to-wall distance at the farthest successful knee-to-wall lunge. Some clinicians measure ankle dorsiflexion as an angle in degrees, but those values are not interchangeable with these centimeter norms.
Which foot should I test?
The protocol can be performed on both feet. The source found no meaningful average difference between left and right sides, but a large individual side-to-side difference can still be clinically relevant.
Why is P50 estimated rather than directly reported?
McBride et al. published subgroup means, standard deviations, and clinical category cut-points, but not exact empirical medians. This site uses the subgroup mean as the central P50 estimate while using the published category boundaries for P5, P25, P75, and P95.
Are these norms suitable for injured ankles?
These norms come from healthy adults, so they are best used as reference values for screening and context. Pain, recent sprain, surgery, neurological conditions, or marked asymmetry should be interpreted clinically rather than judged only against population percentiles.
How do I perform the WBLT?
The full step-by-step protocol is detailed in the 'How to Perform This Test' section above.