Lower Leg, Ankle & Foot Flashcards
Bones of the ankle and foot consist of?
distal tibia & fibula, seven tarsals, & 14 phalanges
What are the 2 principle functions of The Leg, Ankle, and Foot?
Propulsion & Support
Lower leg, ankle, & foot have ability to ______________ different forces acting on body through contact with the ground - this is especially evident during _______.
• dissipate
• gait
• In foot & ankle, movement occurring at each
individual joint is ____________, but when combined, there is enough range of motion in all joints to allow for ____________________.
• minimal
• functional mobility
What is the Talocrural Joint (Ankle)?
• Articulation between distal tibia & fibula with
trochlea (dome) of talus.
What supports the Talocrural Joint (Ankle)?
It’s supported by thin joint capsule, ATFL, deltoid ligament, & calcaneofibular ligament
What is the available ROM of the Talocrural Joint (Ankle)?
• 0-20 degrees dorsiflexion (at least 10 degrees needed for normal gait)
• 0-50 degrees plantarflexion
*For optimal movement at talocrural joint, movement at proximal tibiofibular joint is needed as well. Assessment of this joint should be included when assessing ankle dysfunction
What is the Talocalcaneal Joint (Subtalar)?
Articulation between talus & calcaneus
What movement does the Talocalcaneal Joint (Subtalar) allow for?
5 deg of eversion & inversion
What are the 3 segments of the foot?
• Hindfoot
• Midfoot
• Forefoot
What is Hindfoot?
talus & calcaneus
What is Midfoot?
navicular, cuboid, cuneiforms
What is Forefoot?
metatarsals & phalanges
What is the normal range for the 1st MTP Joint?
between 70-90 degrees of extension
What is the range of the 1st MTP Joint needed for normal gait?
65 deg of extension needed for normal gait
What can cause pain & dysfunction in the foot & ankle?
Stiffness or subluxation of any of the joints in the foot & ankle.
What is the role of the arches in gait?
The arches absorb & return energy to the ground, acting as a primary component of gait.
What structures form the arches of the foot?
The arches are formed by the shape of interlocking bones, ligaments (spring ligament, long plantar ligament), the plantar fascia, & muscles.
Which muscles support the arches during ambulation?
Tibialis anterior, Tibialis posterior, & Peroneus longus, known as the “dynamic arch supporters.”
What can result from weakness or inhibition of the dynamic arch supporters?
Weakness or inhibition of these muscles can lead to overpronation of the arches during gait.
What is pronation in foot movement?
Pronation is a combination of dorsiflexion, eversion, & forefoot abduction, & is the loose-packed position of the foot.
What is supination in foot movement?
Supination is a combination of plantar flexion, inversion, & forefoot adduction, and is the close-packed or “rigid lever” position of the foot used to propel the body forward.
How does the foot function during the loading response of gait?
During loading, the heel strikes the ground in neutral or slight supination, & as the foot lowers, it pronates to conform to the ground & absorb impact forces.
What happens to the foot during mid-stance to terminal stance in gait?
The tibia rotates externally, initiating supination, bringing the foot into a close-packed position, which allows it to act as a rigid lever for propulsion.
What is the windlass mechanism?
The windlass mechanism tightens the plantar fascia during toe extension, helping to stabilize the foot in a rigid lever position for propulsion.
What is overpronation (aka flat foot, pes planus)?
Overpronation is an excessive flattening of the medial longitudinal arch during weight-bearing.
Is overpronation considered an injury?
No, overpronation itself is not considered an injury, but if left unaddressed, it can lead to repetitive strain injuries.
What are some injuries that can result from overpronation?
Injuries include plantar fasciitis, bunions, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, compartment syndrome, meniscal or ligamentous injuries at the knees, patella femoral pain syndrome, hip pain, & strain to the discs, ligaments, & joints in the lower back.
Can overpronation be a response to an issue higher up the kinetic chain?
Yes, sometimes overpronation can be a response to problems higher up the chain, such as weak hip abductors.
What are the main contributing factors to overpronation?
The main factors include muscle imbalances or weakness of the dynamic arch supporters.
How can the dynamic arch supporters become weak?
- Wearing excessively supportive footwear or orthotics
- Overtraining
- Poor motor control of the leg/foot due to nerve root or peripheral nerve impairment.
What are some massage considerations for overpronation?
- Assess the cause through muscle & neurological testing
- Massage can relieve trigger points in the dynamic arch supporters (especially Tibialis posterior)
- Focus on strengthening exercises, gait retraining, & transitioning from overly supportive footwear.
What self-care recommendations can help with overpronation?
- Strengthen dynamic arch supporters
- Gait retraining
- Gradually transition from supportive footwear to less supportive options
- Walk barefoot as much as comfortably possible
- Ease up on intense training habits.
What is pes cavus (high instep, aka supinated foot)?
Pes cavus is an arch that does not fall flat upon weight-bearing.
What are possible causes of pes cavus?
The exact cause is unknown, but it is thought to be associated with neuromuscular conditions (e.g., Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), congenital factors, or trauma such as fractures.
What impairments are commonly associated with pes cavus?
- Imbalance/instability in the foot
- Pain at the metatarsal heads
- Frequent lateral ankle sprains
- Hammertoes and claw toes
- Pain with walking/standing
- Overall foot pain
- Stiffness in the lower leg/foot
- Sesamoid pain
What are treatment options for pes cavus?
- Petrissage to maintain mobility & decrease pain in the lower leg & foot
- Joint play to maintain joint health/mobility & decrease pain
- Referral for orthotics to increase foot surface contact
- Surgery, if necessary
Why does the foot need to flatten (pronate) during gait?
The foot needs to flatten & mold to the ground to absorb forces from the ground during gait. If it doesn’t, this can impact joints further up the kinetic chain.
What are common sites for ankle sprains?
- Anterior talofibular ligament: usually sprained with a plantar flexion and inversion mechanism of injury (MOI)
- Calcaneofibular ligament: sprained with inversion MOI
- Deltoid ligament: sprained with eversion MOI
- Distal anterior tibiofibular sprain (high ankle sprain): happens with forced dorsiflexion, often with eversion
What tests are used to assess ankle sprains?
- Talar Tilt test: for anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament sprains
- Deltoid ligament stress test: for deltoid ligament sprains
- Wedge test: for distal anterior tibiofibular (high ankle sprain)
What are the treatment goals during the acute phase of injury?
- Manage inflammatory pain
- Lymph drainage
- Superficial fluid techniques
- Cool hydrotherapy
- Positioning for optimal - drainage
- Low-grade joint play
- K-taping
- Manage spasm pain
- Maintain ROM
What techniques are used to manage spasm pain in the acute phase of injury?
- Muscle approximation
- GTO (golgi tendon organ techniques), as long as tissues near the lesion site aren’t deformed
What self-care is recommended during the acute phase of injury?
- RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Active free (AF) pain-free ROM exercises
What are the treatment goals during the subacute phase of injury?
- Eliminate residual swelling
- Normalize ROM
- Eliminate residual spasm
- Decrease tone/TrPs
- Decrease fascial contracture
- Encourage healthy scar tissue formation
What techniques are used during the subacute phase to eliminate residual spasm?
All spasm techniques, including petrissage to decrease tone & trigger points (TrPs).
What self-care is recommended during the subacute phase of injury?
- Contrast hydrotherapy or heat
- Passive stretching
- Isometric exercises (muscle setting)
What are the treatment goals during the chronic phase of injury?
- Improve function
- Eliminate lingering TrPs and - high resting tone
- Manage healthy scar tissue formation
- Normalize strength
- Normalize proprioception
What modalities can help improve strength & proprioception during the chronic phase?
- Isotonic strengthening exercises
- Electroacupuncture
- K-taping (facilitation technique)
- Proprioception exercises
What compensatory considerations should be made during the chronic phase?
Consider how the patient has been compensating during the rehabilitation process, & treat these compensatory areas as well. This can also be introduced in earlier stages.
What is Achilles Tendinopathy and its progression?
Typically begins with acute or chronic inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which may progress to degeneration (Achilles tendonosis) if unresolved, resulting in microscopic tears and scar tissue formation. In rare cases, it can lead to tendon rupture.