Ankle Flashcards
What is the function of the ankle?
-Support and propulsion
-Poor foot mechanics leads to injuries in many other joints
-No substitute for adequate muscular development, strength, and proper foot mechanics
26 bones of the foot
-Lateral Malleolus
-Medial Malleolus
-Talus: Body weight transferred from tibia to talus and calcaneus (tarsal bones)
-Calcaneus: Body weight transferred from tibia to talus and calcaneus (tarsal bones)
-Navicular (between talus and 3 cuneiform bones)
-3 Cuneiforms
-Cuboid (between calcaneus and 4th and 5th metatarsals)
-5 metatarsal (anterior to tarsals)
-5 phalanges (1st toe has 2 phalanxes/2sesamoids beneath metatarsal joint)
Movements of the foot and ankle
-Dorsiflexion (flexion)
-Plantar flexion (extension)
-Eversion (away from midline)
-Inversion (toward midline)
-Toe flexion (towards plantar surface of foot)
-Toe extension (away from plantar surface of foot)
-Pronation (arch collapse)
-Supination (high arch)
Ankle sprains
-Most common ankle sprain results from excessive inversion that causes damage to lateral ligamentous structures, primarily anterior and posterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament
-Less common ankle sprain is eversion injuries caused by excessive eversion which injuries deltoid ligament (medially), stronger than ligaments on lateral side
-Lateral malleolus extends further down than medial malleolus (making inversion more common)
-Stronger medial ligaments than lateral ligaments
-Talus is narrow posteriorly (Plantar flexion + inversion/dorsi flexion + eversion)
Shin Splints
-Painful leg condition often associated with running activities
-Not a specific diagnosis
-Attributed to a number of different specific musculotendinous injuries
-Can involve tibialis posterior or anterior tibialis or (compartment syndrome”
-Could also be tibial stress fractures
-May be partially prevented by stretching plantar flexors (increase dorsiflexion range of motion) increasing glute activation, and improving foot mechanics
Arches of the foot
-Longitudinal arch (medial/lateral)
-Transverse arch
Longitudinal arch
-Extends the length of the foot medially and laterally
-Essential for proper foot mechanics (shock absorbers)
Transverse arch
-Extends across foot from 1st metatarsal to 5th metatarsal
-Essential for proper foot mechanics (shock absorbers)
Plantar flexors
-Gastrocnemius of ankle (fast twitch/flexion of knee)
-Soleus (slow twitch) of ankle
-Flexor digitorum longus
-Flexor hallucis longus
-Peroneus longus (eversion of foot)
-Peroneus brevis (eversion of foot
-Plantaris
-Tibialis posterior (inversion of foot)
Dorsi flexors
-Tibialis anterior (inversion of foot)
Evertors
-Peroneus longus (plantar flexors of ankle)
-Peroneus brevis (plantar flexion of ankle)
-Peroneus Tertius (dorsiflexion of ankle)
Invertors
-Tibialis anterior (dorsiflexion of ankle)
-Tibialis posterior (plantar flexion of ankle)
Foot flexors
-Flexor digitorum longus: flexion of 4 lesser toes at metatarsophalangeal, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints (inversion of foot/plantar flexion of ankle)
-Flexor hallucis longus: Flexion of great toe at metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints (Inversion of foot/plantar flexion of ankle)
Foot extensors
-Extensor digitorum longus: extends four lesser toes at metatarsophalangeal, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints (dorsiflexion of ankle/eversion of foot)
-Extensor hallucis longus: Extension of greater toe at metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints (dorsiflexor of ankle, weak inversion of foot)
Intrinsic Muscles of the foot
-All originate and insert within the foot
-Extensor digitorum brevis is on dorsum of foot
-Remainder are in plantar compartment in 4 layers on plantar surface of foot
